A gallery is a business that sells artworks for profit. It is a place where the public can visit to view art for sale, unlike an art museum which is generally free to the general public. The gallery also serves as a liaison between the artist and collectors, taking care of marketing, sales, and communication with buyers. Galleries may specialize in a specific genre or era of art, such as modernist or antiquities.
A lot of the time, galleries collaborate with artists that are still alive. They work with them to promote their art and help grow their careers, making the gallery more well known in the process. This helps increase sales and profits, which is a win for the gallery and artist alike.
In addition to representing living artists, a lot of galleries will buy artwork from other dealers or collectors (or even at auction) and then sell it to their clientele. This is called the secondary market and it can be a very profitable way for a gallery to operate.
As with any business, a gallery needs to be run efficiently and effectively in order to remain competitive. The largest source of income for a gallery is from the sales of artworks. To make a profit, the gallery will take a percentage of each sale, usually 50-50%, with the artist.
When it comes to promoting their clients, galleries will use various strategies, including social media and email marketing. They will also host events, including openings and art walks, to draw people in. They will also take part in regional and national exhibitions.
Often times, galleries will have a sales associate or manager that is responsible for all the day-to-day activities in the gallery. This person takes care of the marketing, sales, and other administrative duties of the gallery. These individuals are often paid a substantial salary, especially in the larger, metropolitan galleries.
If a person wants to get their art into a gallery, they will need to do their research. They should look at the websites and social media of each gallery and decide if their work is in keeping with the themes, styles, and mediums the gallery tends to display. They should then submit their artwork according to the guidelines set forth by each gallery.
When submitting to a gallery via email, it is important to remember that the initial contact can make or break an artist’s chance of being accepted. If an artist sends their submission email to multiple galleries without the courtesy of asking whether or not they are interested, they will be seen as pushy and annoying. They should also avoid sending their submission as an attachment, and instead send a link to a website or online portfolio. Finally, the artist should be sure to carefully package their submission and include prepaid return postage. This will help ensure that the artwork arrives in good condition and ready for display. It is best not to mail physical pieces to galleries, but if that is what is necessary for the submission, they should be shipped in protective boxes and padded with tissue paper.