Art world basics
What Is an Art Gallery?
An art gallery is a space — physical or online — that exhibits and typically sells artwork on behalf of artists. Unlike a museum, which primarily collects and preserves art for public education and rarely sells its collection, a gallery's core function is commercial: connecting artists with buyers and taking a commission on sales.
Art Gallery vs Museum: The Key Difference
This is the most common point of confusion, so it's worth being direct:
- Galleries sell art. Their business model depends on moving work from artists to collectors.
- Museums preserve and educate. Their collections are typically not for sale, and they're often funded by admission, grants, and donations rather than sales commissions.
A single space can sometimes blur this line — some museums have gift-shop galleries, and some commercial galleries host non-selling exhibitions — but the core distinction (commercial vs preservation-focused) holds in most cases.
Types of Art Galleries
- Commercial galleries — represent a roster of artists, hold regular exhibitions, and earn commission (typically 40–50%) on sales. The default meaning of "art gallery."
- Artist-run / co-operative galleries — owned and operated collectively by artists, often with lower commission rates and more flexible curatorial standards.
- Vanity galleries — charge artists a fee to exhibit regardless of sales; generally considered a poor path to serious representation and worth researching carefully before paying.
- Online galleries — operate similarly to commercial galleries but without a physical space, often with lower overhead and broader geographic reach.
- Non-profit / project spaces — focused on experimental or emerging work, often grant-funded rather than commission-dependent, and less focused on sales.
How a Gallery Relationship Typically Works
- An artist submits a portfolio, or a gallery scouts them through shows, open calls, or referrals.
- If accepted, the gallery and artist agree on a consignment arrangement — the gallery displays and sells the work, taking a commission (commonly 40–50%).
- The gallery markets the artist's work, hosts exhibitions or openings, and connects pieces with collectors.
- When a piece sells, the gallery pays the artist their share, typically within 30–60 days.
What a Gallery Provides Beyond Wall Space
A good gallery does more than display work — it typically offers:
- Access to an established collector base built over years
- Marketing, PR, and opening events
- Professional framing and installation guidance
- Career development — introductions to curators, critics, and other opportunities
Running or working with a gallery?
Aurelian is the private operating record galleries use for consignments, sales, and collector relationships.
FAQ
What's the difference between an art gallery and a museum?
Galleries sell art and operate commercially, typically taking a commission on sales. Museums primarily collect and preserve art for public education and generally don't sell their collections.
Do all art galleries take the same commission?
No — commission rates vary widely, commonly 20–30% at co-operative galleries up to 50–60% at high-end commercial galleries.
What is a vanity gallery?
A gallery that charges artists an upfront fee to exhibit, regardless of whether work sells. These are generally viewed skeptically in the art world and worth researching carefully before paying any fee.