Are Galley Shows Worth It?

 

There is no more ego-boosting for an artist or photographer than having his or her art displayed in a gallery.  I get that.  I have had some of my works hung in a gallery show and even a private one.  

I have followed a New York Artist on YouTube for a long time. His YouTube channel is SLEW.  Recently he had a private gallery show.  I watched as his excitement grew over his first-ever private gallery show in New York.  I watched as he took on a self-challenge to paint a huge oil painting for the show.  His largest canvas yet.  This piece would be the centerpiece of the show and he wanted it to showcase his talents and abilities.  

I watched as he made this huge endeavor that would require considerable work and funds.  Gallery shows are not cheap in any respect. 

So, let's talk about cost. 

Rent.  Some galleries rent out their space.  Especially for a private showing.  In the case of Slew's show, he did not disclose what the cost was.  But considering New York pricing and that the gallery was two floors, then I would guess the amount was considerable. Some galleries work on a commission basis so that if you sell any works the gallery takes a percentage of the sale.  This can be as high as 60%.

Frames.  Presenting your work in most galleries requires your works to be framed. And some galleries are very particular on framing.  Most galleries will not accept saw tooth hangers on the frame, but require wire hangers.  Others require specific frames such as all the works require black wood frames.  In SLEW's show, it was completely up to him as to how his works will be presented. 

Time.  There is so much that goes into a gallery show.  There is considerable planning and preparation.  Depending on the size of the show.  In some cases, the gallery has staff that does the complete show layout and hanging of the art pieces.  In SLEW's case, he did everything with some help from a friend. This helped reduce the cost of the show considerably. 

Transporation.  You have to get your art to the gallery.  If you have large works of art then transporting the art can incur cost.  In the case of SLEW's gallery show, he and a friend bubble-wrapped each work of art then boxed them, and finally rented a You Hull truck for transportation.  Remember, this has to be done twice.  Getting the art to the gallery and once the show is over, getting it back to your studio or home, and doing this safely.  This adds to the cost, labor, and time. 

Opening. It is common practice to have a gallery show opening.  This can be a private opening or one that is open to the public.  Think of it as a social party.  You need to provide your guests with finger food and drinks.  In some cases, you may want to have this catered.  In SLEW's show, he included a free open bar.  This really added to the cost of his show. 

In conclusion, considering the considerable cost in money, time, and labor, is a gallery show worth it?  There are perks to gallery shows beyond the possible sales.  There is a great deal of prestige in a gallery show.  This is great BIO material.  Gallery shows help artists get known and recognized.  And there is the EGO boost.  The ability to show of your work to family, friends, and the community.  

My personal experience is the same as SLEW's.  He did not sell a single item at the show.  This included no sales of his artwork or merchandise.  The show seemed well attended, and some of his followers even traveled from out of town to attend the show.  In the basement was his student's show and I do not believe any of those works sold.  I wonder why?  He is very talented and his works reflected that. But not to even sell his Tote Bags that I an sure were priced affordable leaves me wondering why.

My personal experience has been the same as SLEW's.  I have been part of club gallery shows, independent gallery shows, and even a private gallery show.  And out of all of them, I have only sold a few works of art.  Nothing that came close to covering the cost or effort.  And like SLEW, was I disappointed?  A little bit.  Was it worth it?  I am not sure.  Would I do another one?  I never say never. As I said, there are benefits of having your art hanging in galleries beyond the monetary rewards.  You have to balance that with what you want out of the show.  If you want to have the gallery show with the bet of making a lot of money, well, good luck with that.  Not to say artists do not find galleries financially rewarding, I am just not sure I know of any that has.    

Reference SLEWs gallery Show.  
https://youtu.be/vGEVu_-pEws?si=BbNPrCGU9eSQJ6PM