An art gallery is a business that nurtures visual artists, promotes their work to the public, collectors, media and cultural institutions, and establishes them within the professional art world locally and globally. Its vast mission is accomplished through carefully curated selection of the artist’s portfolio, exhibition space, administrative and curatorial staff, insurance, investments in new artworks for sale, participation in numerous expensive art fairs, communication strategies and relationships with customers.
Art galleries also acquire and care for significant works of art, making them available to the public for future generations. This is especially true for older pieces, which are often not kept in museums but instead stored in galleries. Galleries also collaborate with public and private institutions, such as museums, biennials and salons, to make art more accessible to the general population.
When people go to a museum or a private gallery, they usually don’t realize that the gallery is involved in all aspects of their experience. The owner, supervisor and curation of exhibitions are the responsibility of the gallery and they may not be aware of all that goes on behind the scenes.
One of the biggest things an art gallery does is act as a broker between the artist and their customers, whether it is to sell one piece or an entire collection. This involves a lot of paperwork, invoicing and tracking the value of an artwork on the secondary market. The gallery takes on a big amount of risk in this department as it is not guaranteed that they will earn back the money they invested in the purchase and promotion of an artwork.
Many artists are not aware of all the work that goes on behind the scenes at a gallery. They often assume that once they sign with a gallery, they automatically have a group of clients waiting to buy their work. However, this could not be further from the truth. Galleries need to spend time and resources promoting the artists they represent to their client base, as well as working hard to convince them that a specific style or genre of artwork is right for them.
It is important to note that an art gallery can be a non-profit organization and earn its revenue through the sales of artworks or grants from foundations and individuals. Additionally, an art gallery can be a commercial establishment that makes money through rental fees for spaces used to host their own or other artists’ exhibitions.
It is worth noting that in addition to selling artworks, galleries can also rent their spaces for events and functions, such as weddings or corporate parties. In order to stay competitive, art galleries are also moving into the virtual sphere and are exploring online sales and the creation of digital exhibitions. Online platforms like ArtPlacer offer a solution for these emerging needs by providing online galleries that replicate the real sales experience with a few simple clicks.