Exhibiting Talent - Art Gallery

An art gallery is a place where art, generally visual art, is prominently displayed for public viewing.  The most commonly displayed type of art in a gallery are paintings but art galleries can also feature sculpture, photographs, illustrations, and many other genres of art.  Art galleries are sometimes the venue for artistic events and activities such as parties, fundraisers, music concerts or poetry readings.  Art galleries are often considered the central focal point of any area’s arts community.

Types of Art Galleries

The term “Art Gallery” can refer to both public galleries where museums display permanent collections of art, or to private ones, where art is commissioned and sold.  Both types of venues can host temporary exhibitions of art acquired on loan from other galleries.  The rooms in various museums where art is publicly exhibited are called galleries as well.  For example a room in a museum showing Native American artifacts would be referred to as a Native American Indian Gallery.

The Contemporary Art Gallery

A contemporary art gallery is usually one which is privately owned and operated for profit.  These types of galleries can be found in abundance, often clustered together in large urban areas.  Smaller towns often boast at least one art gallery, as do smaller communities and remote areas where artist communities might exist. Contemporary art galleries are usually open to the general public without charge; however, some are semi-private. Their profit comes from the sale of their inventory.  Contemporary art galleries sometimes exclusively represent certain artists, managing their career and giving them the chance to show their work regularly. 

Types of Work Not Seen in Art Galleries

Drawings, master prints and other works on paper are not generally displayed by gallery curators due to conservation and preservation issues.  Collections like those might be found in the print rooms of museums or libraries.  Murals are other examples of art not featured in actual galleries, due to their size, and due to the very permanent installation.  Land art and performance art, nouveaux forms of art which have gained popularity in the 20^th century and beyond, are also typically displayed outside of art galleries.