A gallery is a space used for the display of art. It may be found in private homes or in institutions such as museums and art schools. In churches it may be a room used for additional seating or an extension of the nave, or it might be a projection from the wall to allow more people to view a special piece of artwork or an event. A gallery may also be a second-story extension in the interior of an existing structure, such as a theatre or an academic institution. It can even be a passageway within a building, such as in an ancient Roman structure or a classical temple.
A commercial art gallery is a venue for the display and sale of original works of fine art by living artists. This type of gallery is typically run by a group of people who are committed to representing and supporting the work of their artists and/or artist estates. They will often collaborate with their artists on a long-term basis, where they will work together to develop their careers and collectors base. They are referred to as represented artists, while those who only work with the gallery on a one-time basis are referred to as exhibited artists.
It is important for artists to understand that a gallery can be a very competitive environment. When an artist approaches a gallery with a proposal, they must be clear in their intention to work with the gallery and be ready to negotiate fees that will be mutually beneficial.
When submitting to a gallery, it is important for the artist to make a connection with the director or curator. This can be done by referencing a previous meeting or event, giving a sincere compliment about the gallery’s program or recent exhibition (if appropriate) and sharing some information about their career and art practice (2-3 sentences). It is also important to include a website, Dropbox/WeTransfer links or attachments of representative images of your work.
Gallery owners and curators are looking for specific qualities in the work of the artists they represent. For example, they will look for photographers who have an understanding of the technical aspects of photography and who are willing to experiment with how it can be used for artistic purposes. They will also look for artists who are engaged with the history of photography and its continuing development.
There are many arguments and debates about what photography is and what it can be. Some of these discussions are philosophical, with people arguing about the definition of the medium and its boundaries. Others are more practical, with people discussing how the medium is changing and what its future might be. It is important for artists to keep up with these conversations, to be aware of the debates and to be prepared to respond to them. In this way, they will be able to create a body of work that will be relevant in the context of current discussions about the medium.