My Experience as a Common Man Near Art Gallery
Common Misconceptions Artists Have About Galleries
In an ongoing effort to dissever art earth facts from fantasy, I contacted a number of gallery owners and asked whether they could relate some beliefs artists have well-nigh galleries and gallery owners that simply aren't true. Successful artist/gallery relationships are built on trust, cognition, cooperation and understanding, and the better and more than informed artists are about how art galleries actually piece of work, the greater the chances that their gallery relationships will succeed and prosper. So are you ready to bewitch those erroneous notions? Excellent...
Misconception: Art galleries have people set to purchase any art they accept to offer.
Reality: Non the least scrap true. The opposite is far more often the example, that galleries have to convince their clients that work by gallery artists is worth adding their collections.
Misconception: Galleries are responsible for doing all the work and all the publicity for their shows. All artists have to do is bring in the fine art.
Reality: Active and ongoing participation and involvement by artists is an essential part of any successful artist/gallery human relationship.
Misconception: Galleries are loaded with money.
Reality: No way. The contrary is far more often the instance.
Misconception: Artists have to pay to show their art at galleries.
Reality: Not true. Some galleries might like yous to believe that, but the artist/gallery relationship is like a partnership of sorts. Galleries provide their artists with space to showroom their art and the artists provide the galleries with art. No money changes easily up front; galleries believe in the artists they represent and believe they can make money past selling their art. Those few galleries that practice charge artists to exhibit have less incentive to sell whatsoever fine art they show because they've already been paid.
Misconception: Galleries don't represent plenty artists; they need more.
Reality: Non simply practice the large bulk of galleries already accept more art and artists than they tin handle, but they are also continually contacted by new artists looking for representation. What they actually demand is more buyers.
Misconception: Getting gallery representation will automatically boost an creative person's career because galleries are the fundamental to fame and the fast track to fortune.
Reality: At that place is no instant set up in artland, like one twenty-four hour period you're totally unknown and the next day you're on your fashion to stardom. Becoming successful and established as an artist happens gradually over a period of time, and is based on a consistent and successful track record of shows, accomplishments and sales. One or 2 gallery shows do not brand a career, and getting gallery representation is nothing more one footstep in a long and arduous process.
Misconception: All artists who show at galleries are successful and make lots of coin.
Reality: Many artists who show at galleries-- including better galleries-- not only struggle to maintain their relationships and continue getting shows, merely also worry about making enough sales and plenty coin to survive.
Misconception: Fine art galleries are the enemy. The relationship between artist and gallery is adversarial, not collaborative.
Reality: Not the least bit true. No gallery works against its own artists; they'd only be hurting themselves if they did. Galleries practice everything they tin to maximize the success of every artist they represent; the more they do for their artists, the more they exercise for their ain reputations and track records of success. Artists demand to work alongside the galleries that correspond them every step of the way. Then everyone's reputation benefits.
Misconception: Collectors ever pay full gallery retail prices for art.
Reality: Many collectors desire to pay less than retail. Artists should understand this, be flexible virtually with their prices (inside reason), and be willing to separate whatsoever discounts galleries are forced to offering buyers in order to make sales. In case y'all weren't aware, it'south not uncommon for galleries to take a hit by giving discounts to buyers, eating the lost revenue themselves and never telling the artists.
Misconception: Galleries brand huge profits.
Reality: If only that were true... but unfortunately it'southward non.
Misconception: Galleries take hardly whatever expenses.
Reality: Rent, insurance, alarm systems, utilities, phone bills, equipment, supplies, packing, shipping, transportation, effects, computers, publicity, art fairs, announcements, memberships, ante, advertising, employees, and and then on then forth ad infinitum. Running a gallery is expensive. Galleries in desirable locations ofttimes have expenses ranging anywhere from thousands to tens of thousands of dollars per month, and sometimes even more.
Misconception: Galleries should pay for all incidentals including shipping, framing, hanging, travel expenses, and then on.
Reality: Be willing to split up some of these expenses with a gallery if asked and the requests are reasonable, especially if the relationship is new and untested. The gallery is already investing plenty of time, coin and infinite in yous and your art... and hoping to sell enough of it to at least break even. If an artist is bluish bit or the creative person/gallery relationship is longstanding and successful, handling of expenses may be different, but in situations where artists are less established, the gallery may need help and cooperation and enquire for some caste of assistance.
Misconception: If a gallery can't sell an creative person's art, they're entirely to blame because they're not working hard enough to sell information technology.
Reality: Galleries always believe they tin can sell fine art past artists they either evidence or represent, just unfortunately they're not always right. Additionally, outside factors like personal tastes, trends and fashions, reviews past critics, discussion of rima oris, publicity, the health of the economy, and other outside forces may come into play at any time and impact sales.
Misconception: If a gallery isn't interested in an artist'southward art, information technology's because they don't understand it.
Reality: Information technology is the responsibility of artists to larn how to present their art conspicuously, effectively and understandably in relatively short periods of time. Experienced gallery owners continually see all kinds of fine art by all kinds of artists and accept acquired the skills necessary to make decisions relatively fast. They just do not have the time to go into deep discussions wth artists or listen to long detailed explanations about their art. In any situation where you have an opportunity to nowadays or discuss your art with a gallery, be well prepared to get your principal points across fast and answer whatever questions you might be asked.
Misconception: Selling art is easy.
Reality: Selling a commodity that has no tangible value, is by and large expensive and serves no applied purpose is anything simply piece of cake. If yous think otherwise, you have no thought of the verbal encounters, engagements and maneuvers gallery owners endure on a daily ground in guild to make sales.
Misconception: Art sells itself and galleries accept zero to exercise with selling it. All gallery owners practice is sit effectually and wait for people to come in and buy.
Reality: No art sells itself. There's a huge difference betwixt someone liking a piece of work of fine art and buying information technology. That divergence is called selling.
Misconception: Giving a 50% commission to galleries is also much. The artists are the ones who do all the work. Galleries only work for a few days setting up shows then sit and wait for sales to happen.
Reality: Showtime of all, galleries almost ever take far greater expenses than artists. Secondly, selling fine art is a full-time task, non only at the gallery but also by phone, online, making visits to collectors or potential buyers, exhibiting at fine art fairs, hosting openings and events at their galleries, writing and sending newsletters and email updates, and more. Gallery owners spend all day every day doing their accented all-time to make sales.
Misconception: Galleries get rich while artists stay poor.
Reality: The large majority of galleries take simply as much trouble surviving financially equally artists do. A gallery owner getting wealthy by selling art is very rare indeed.
Misconception: All artists contribute as to the success of their galleries.
Reality: In the large bulk of cases, only a few artists go on galleries solvent and afloat. Sales of art past a gallery's well-nigh popular artists frequently help finance shows for artists who tend non to sell that well.
Misconception: Galleries are wealthy because they're the link between artists and rich people.
Reality: All kinds of people buy art and all kinds of people own galleries, most of whom are nowhere near rich. The overwhelming bulk of gallery owners and collectors are in this for ane reason-- because they love art. Information technology'due south that unproblematic and no more complicated.
Misconception: But because a gallery has an creative person'south fine art, they have to exhibit it and give the artist shows.
Reality: Far generally, galleries start slowly with artists, perhaps taking several works on consignment and showing them selectively to run into how certain clients answer. They likewise want to make sure the artists are responsible and easy to work with before getting in besides deep. Assuming all goes well, shows will happen.
Misconception: Galleries take power and influence in the fine art world; they control markets and determine tastes.
Reality: The exact reverse is far more ofttimes the case. Few if any gallery owners have the ability to command or influence how the world responds to their artists.
Misconception: When an creative person leaves one gallery and goes to some other, their collectors automatically get with them.
Reality: Unless an artist is already successful or hotter than hot, collectors' typically remain loyal to particular galleries and not necessarily to the artists those galleries represent.
Misconception: If an artist gets a gallery show, they're automatically going to sell lots of art and make lots of money.
Reality: No guarantees whatsoever on this. Piece of work difficult, do what yous can to brand the most of your exposure, keep your fingers crossed and hope for the best... just like the gallery owner is doing.
Misconception: If a testify doesn't sell well, the gallery didn't desire information technology to.
Reality: No gallery owner in their right mind would deliberately sabotage their own shows in order to make every bit few sales and as little money equally possible. That makes absolutely nothing sense.
Misconception: Galleries simply testify art that's salable.
Reality: Galleries are much more than selling machines. They bring new art and new artists to the attention of the public all the time. They securely believe in the artists they show, in the validity of their fine art, and that the public at least deserves to see information technology-- whether they ultimately end upwards buying or not.
Misconception: Practiced publicity or skilful reviews by critics automatically translate into sales.
Reality: Y'all promise.
Misconception: Galleries have the capacity to make museums either show or purchase their artists' art.
Reality: Not truthful. Museums typically bear witness or acquire fine art by artists who have compiled consistent track records of successful shows, exhibitions, awards, distinctions and other notable accomplishments.
Misconception: Gallery owners don't similar art; they're merely in it for the coin.
Reality: Nobody who's "in it for the coin" would ever open an fine art gallery. Running an art gallery is fashion far down the list of means to make lots of money.
Misconception: Any gallery is right for an artist, no matter what kind of fine art that artist makes.
Reality: Galleries are extremely particular about the types of art and artists they show, and in the overwhelming majority of cases, just testify very narrow and highly defined types, styles or genres of fine art.
Misconception: Regular communication between artists and their galleries is not necessary; everybody understands everything and nothing really needs to be said.
Reality: Clear, open and ongoing communications are essential to any successful artist/gallery human relationship.
Misconception: Galleries never need to be thanked or best-selling for what they practise. It's all almost the art and the galleries are just places that bear witness it.
Reality: A petty appreciation goes a long way. Galleries invest incredible amounts of time and endeavor in representing and publicizing their artists. To repeat, no art sells itself. And galleries love when artists take even a moment to say thanks.
Misconception: A gallery should prove whatever works of fine art the artists wants them to.
Reality: Not true. Give the gallery flexibility in deciding what to show; let them curate the art. Galleries know what works best for them, what their collectors tend to prefer, and how to organize and present art in compelling and effective ways. The works of art a gallery decides to show can certainly be open up to give-and-take, but know that they have your all-time interests in mind when making their final selections.
Misconception: Galleries have a duty to look at and consider all artist submissions regardless of who the artists are, what their art looks like, or how well it fits in with the types of fine art that the galleries typically show.
Reality: Galleries are continually bombarded and overwhelmed with submissions, most already have more than plenty artists on their rosters, most have their exhibition calendars booked up at least a year in advance, and many barely have the time to attend to the artists they already correspond.
Misconception: Galleries should respond to an artist's every need, personal or otherwise.
Reality: This is a business organisation human relationship, not a personal one; e'er recollect that. Information technology'south best to save personal matters for friends and family.
Misconception: The relationship between an artist and a gallery should e'er exist the aforementioned no matter what happens over fourth dimension.
Reality: Things change; nothing ever remains the same. Artist/gallery relationships are e'er evolving, so be prepared.
Misconception: No thing when you contact or prove upwardly at a gallery that represents you lot, the gallery owner should show you immediate attending.
Reality: That'south not possible. At least requite the gallery owner advance notice you're coming in or have something you lot'd like to discuss. Ameliorate yet, brand an appointment.
Misconception: All galleries and gallery owners are the same.
Reality: Galleries are as unique and idiosyncratic equally collectors (if not more so). Just because one gallery reacts to your art in a sure way does not hateful all galleries will. Never be discouraged past any encounter with any gallery; if your art isn't for them, movement on to the side by side exciting adventure.
(art by Dana Hart-Rock)
Source: https://www.artbusiness.com/misconceptions-artists-have-about-galleries.html
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