An art gallery is a business that works with living artists or the estates of deceased ones to showcase and sell their work. Although showcasing art in exhibitions and selling it to collectors are the most obvious roles of galleries, they do a lot more behind the scenes that you may not see.
They are a critical middleman in the art ecosystem embraced by artists and collectors alike. They connect the artist to the art market and walk them through the steps toward becoming a professional artist. A well established artist can then move to a museum and have the chance to become even more visible to art enthusiasts.
When scouting for artists, galleries often look for a long-term collaboration that can translate into a stable art business. This is why they tend to represent a limited portfolio of artists. The artists that they collaborate with on a long-term basis are called represented artists while those that they work with for one specific exhibition are called exhibited artists.
The relationship between the gallery and the artist is based on trust. Usually, the gallery invests their money and their time in a project with an artist to support them and give them the confidence that their artwork will have value and they can make a decent profit. In exchange, the artist agrees to pay a gallery a commission on each piece that is sold.
As a way to increase sales and reach a wider audience, art galleries frequently take part in art fairs and other exhibition opportunities outside their gallery space. They also promote their artists internationally by sharing their images and bios on social media. They also look for book publishing opportunities, or help their artists to create a monograph that would allow them to showcase their work to a more general public.
In addition to these services, many galleries also provide guidance and mentorship for their artists. This can be critiquing their work, helping them to choose projects and shows, or even pricing their art. They can also act as a professional layer between the artists and their clients, handling invoicing and communication.
Lastly, many art galleries organize gallery openings or’vernissages’. These events are a great opportunity for the art community to gather, discover new exhibits and connect with each other over a glass of wine. They are also an excellent way for galleries to introduce new artists to their audience.
If you are a visual artist, it is important to understand what the role of an art gallery is so that you can find out whether this type of business is for you. It is always best to approach galleries that you know who have a good reputation in the industry, are specialized in your artistic field and offer a good fit in terms of aesthetics. You can start by looking at their websites and learning more about the way they operate before reaching out to them.