An art gallery is a place that features art for public viewing. These galleries display various works of art from a particular region or even from around the world. They usually also have a library with books and magazines that help their clients understand the style and technique of the artworks displayed in the gallery.
There are many types of art galleries, ranging from small local independent galleries to large international corporate-owned art houses. Some art galleries specialize in a particular genre of artwork, such as photography or sculpture, while others focus on specific historical eras or artists. They also may choose to focus on certain mediums such as paintings, prints or mixed media art. The majority of art galleries offer educational services, such as guided tours and workshops, to help educate people about the history and significance of the artworks displayed in their spaces.
One of the primary functions of an art gallery is to serve as a bridge between living artists and the professional art market. They typically collaborate with artists by agreeing to represent their work, and in doing so, the artist grants the gallery exclusive rights for displaying and selling their artworks within a specific exhibition period. Many successful artists credit galleries for giving them crucial support in the early stages of their careers. For example, the gallery owner Peggy Guggenheim initially gave Mark Rothko a solo exhibition in 1945 that helped launch his career.
Along with representing artists, art galleries also promote and conduct group exhibitions. These shows feature a variety of works from several artists and are often curated with the goal of showcasing emerging talent or a specific art movement. In order to be included in an exhibition at a gallery, an artist must submit their portfolio for consideration. Most galleries are juried and selective about which artists they represent, so it is important for artists to carefully research the gallery before submitting their work.
When a gallery holds an art show, they take care of all the logistics involved in preparing and staging the event, such as renting the space, insurance, transportation and supervision of the works during the show. In addition, they may also handle the invitations, printing and any additional promotional materials. The gallery will also promote the exhibition to their client base and seek out new collectors for the exhibited artworks.
In return for their efforts, galleries receive a commission from the sale of an artwork. In addition, they often provide other professional services in the art context such as advisory services to the general public, art installation and investment services.
In some cases, galleries will also buy art from outside sources, such as auctions or other dealers, and then sell the artworks at a profit in their gallery. The gallery will usually divide the profits with the artist 50/50. For this reason, artists should never sell their artwork directly to a collector without the gallery’s approval as this could jeopardize the artist’s relationship with the gallery.