Arne Glimcher plus I have a lot in common. We both understand that the art world is often perceived as a mysterious place, a distant universe, or a way to get rich. It has also been considered by many to be an exclusive plus elitist society. However, with the innovation of technology, the internet, plus the growth of world art fairs, much progress has been made in demystifying this wonderful plus creative world plus introducing its many players, including artists, museums, cultural institutions, media, curators, fairs, auction houses, plus of course, art galleries. I have owned plus directed my art gallery for 22 years. My position has provided me with a wealth of experience plus professional insights to be able to explain the important role plus purpose of a gallery within the art world.
This article is dedicated to all those who told me plus continue to say, “Your job is so wonderful. You make so much money promoting beautiful art to beautiful people.” This is a wonderful perception – but there is so much more to the reality.
I opened my art gallery after years of living plus working in the world of art. I majored in Art History at Middlebury College in Vermont plus began my career working at the Gold Museum in Bogota, Colombia. My career led me to formative positions in the same city, working with the Art Department at the Bank of the Republic, plus the Museum of Modern Art, in the museology, curatorial plus editorial departments, respectively. Breaking with tradition, I forged a path with a partner plus launched an art consulting office in the late 80s plus early 90s. It was a new concept in Colombia. In 2000, I went out on my own plus opened Beatriz Esguerra Art.
The primary purpose of an art gallery is to nurture visual artists, promote their work, plus expose them to the public, collectors, media, plus cultural institutions. Furthermore, the gallery works tirelessly plus strategically to advance the artists’ careers plus establish them in the professional art world both locally plus globally. To achieve this vast mission, a gallery must provide appropriate exhibition space, manage administrative plus curatorial staff, provide insurance, secure advertising, invest plus participate in a myriad of very expensive art fairs, develop plus set up websites, pay for subscriptions, plus produce timely plus well-attended events. Each gallery represents plus promotes a kelompok of artists that, in general terms, follows a specific line plus style; this makes each art gallery unique. For example, some galleries represent emerging artists, plus others promote specific art genres such as abstract or contemporary art, art on paper, or the masters of the 20th century. Mistakenly, many think that any artist fits in any gallery without considering the vision, mission, plus jenis promoted by the specific gallery.