A gallery is a place where art is displayed and sold. Many art galleries specialize in particular genres of art, and some are dedicated to contemporary works or artists. Some of these galleries are housed in major museums, while others are stand-alone spaces. In addition to hosting exhibitions, an art gallery can also offer educational programs and tours. An art gallery is a great place to learn about different cultures and explore new styles of artwork.
Despite their glamorous and luxurious interiors, art galleries have a lot of work to do behind the scenes. A successful gallery helps its artists to manage their careers and establishes the correct value for artworks in the professional art market. It also provides archival assistance, research, photography and publishing.
In order to achieve its sales goal, an art gallery must attract clients from a broad base of demographics. Therefore, a successful art gallery has a strong digital presence on a variety of social media platforms. This is a time-consuming, resource-intensive effort that requires a certain level of expertise.
Artists depend on galleries for a degree of financial support if not outright subsistence, and most artists need the gallery to promote their work and cultivate a public interest in it. Moreover, the gallery makes money with every sale of an artwork, so it is in the best interests of both parties to push for sales.
Often, a single gallery will have a portfolio of artists that it commits to representing and promoting over the course of a long-term collaboration. Other times, a single gallery will host an exhibition for the benefit of a specific artist. The artists that are part of a long-term collaboration with the gallery are referred to as represented artists, while those from a one-time collaboration are referred to as exhibited artists.
Art historians and conservators are a vital part of an art gallery’s team. They are tasked with uncovering secrets about artists’ materials and practices, as well as conserving and restoring lost or damaged masterpieces. These efforts help to create a greater understanding of an art work and allow the public to view the masterpiece as it was originally intended.
When describing an art piece, it is important to use as much of the visual information in the painting as possible. Using the name of a person, such as the artist or the subject of the work, can help to orient a viewer and provide a sense of context (Carracci, Venus Adorned with Flowers; Cranach the Elder, Crucifixion with Converted Centurion). When gender is ambiguous, it is better to be explicit rather than leave it unclear or assign a gender by assumption (Boyle, Portrait of Mrs. Hodgson). Including a date can add to a viewer’s understanding of the work, especially when it provides context in relation to the artist’s life or times.