A gallery, also known as an art gallery or picture gallery, is a place where artwork is displayed and offered for sale. Galleries can be found both online or as a physical location, either commercial or public. Art galleries can be large or small, and can specialize in specific subjects or areas of art such as painting, photography, or even drawing.
While the primary purpose of galleries is to display artwork for sale, it’s important to note that it is also possible to visit a gallery without purchasing art. However, the money that galleries make from the sales of artwork is what keeps them running.
In addition to displaying and selling art, galleries do many other things that are crucial to the growth of their artists’ careers. This includes working with the artist to build a portfolio of artworks that the gallery can offer for sale. This portfolio is carefully curated and includes artworks from an artist with whom the gallery has a long-term collaboration, often referred to as represented artists, and works that the gallery has collaborated with on a one-time basis for a single exhibition, often referred to as exhibited artists.
When a new piece of artwork is ready for sale, the gallery will prepare it by taking care of the various logistics involved, such as transportation costs, insurance coverage, labeling, invoicing, tracking sold pieces, monitoring the value of the artworks on the secondary market, and more. The gallery will then work with the artist to promote the art and sell it, earning a commission on each sale. This is a collaborative effort between the gallery and the artists, as it is in the best interest of both parties for the art to be well promoted and sold in order to grow the artist’s career and sales.
Lastly, many galleries will also take part in art fairs and other exhibition opportunities to help promote their artists both nationally and internationally. They will often also assist their artists with collaborating with newspapers, magazines, or online platforms to showcase their art. Additionally, they may take part in other activities that help to support their artists such as book publishing when the time comes.
Finally, galleries will often hold events called openings (also known as vernissages) for their exhibitions. These are a fun and exciting way for the gallery to invite friends, family, and other artists to come together and discover the new art exhibitions. These events are usually open to the public and free of charge.