A gallery is a business that sells artwork. They specialize in a specific segment of the art world, such as photography, sculpture, or mixed media. The money they earn from sales is used to run their business and exhibitions. Many art galleries also provide educational programs and other activities for their audience. Some of these activities may be free and some may require a fee to attend.
Artworks at a gallery are for sale, unlike the artwork at museums which is usually not for sale. The reason for this is that art galleries are businesses and need to generate revenue to keep the doors open. The money from selling artwork is also used to support the artists who are exhibiting in their gallery.
The word “gallery” comes from the Italian word galleria, which means a room in which paintings or drawings are displayed. It was originally used to refer to a public area in the palaces of the Renaissance, where the nobles showed off their collections. Today, the word gallery is primarily used to describe art spaces.
Most galleries have an established portfolio of artists they work with on a long-term basis. These are called represented artists, while those who work with a gallery for a single exhibition are known as exhibited artists. The gallery will work with these artists to market their work and find buyers for their work. The artist also gets a commission from the sale of their artwork.
Aside from organizing and promoting art shows, galleries also act as brokers or traders of art. They can take care of the logistics involved in a major art exhibition, such as renting the space for the show and managing the shipping or installation. They can also help artists develop their careers by finding other opportunities to showcase their work, such as at art fairs or in institutional exhibitions. They can even help their artists to publish books on their art.
For artists, the best way to land a gallery representation is to have a compelling oeuvre and professional artist profile. They should also have a strong network and be open to collaborations with other galleries, institutions, and organizations that share the same vision. Additionally, they should be clear about their expectations and not be afraid to ask for a commitment from the gallery to pursue their goal of having their work seen and sold.
When submitting artwork to a gallery, the first step is to make a connection with the curator or director. This can be done by mentioning how you found out about the gallery, referencing a previous collaboration, or giving a sincere compliment on the program or a recent exhibition. After making this connection, the next step is to include a sample of your work. Be sure to only send the highest quality images you have of your artwork. Make sure to only include one image per email or dropbox submission.