You heard about an art exhibition and decided to go. Now you see an amazing piece of art in front of you which you want to take home with you. Can you do so? Can you buy art at an art exhibition? The answer is that it depends. That’s what we’re talking about today.
Let’s start things off with where you might attend and art exhibition. You’ll often run into art exhibitions at outdoor art fairs, art galleries, and museums. You might see other options pop up but these are the main venues. Now, let’s discuss our main point within the bounds of each venue.
1. Outdoor Art Fairs
Outdoor art fairs are often seasonal. No one wants to face the elements of heat, snow, rain, wind, etc. This means you’ll find such fairs and bazaars set up during more temperate times of year. Depending upon the size of the event, you may find a handful of artists exhibiting their art or a veritable city of tents in which to wander and lose yourself in art. If you’re lucky, there will be food merchants there too.
As these events are set up to sell art, you can bet that you can buy art at this kind of exhibition. In fact, the artists will thank you for doing so. They either staff their booths personally or have a representative there to handle transactions in their absence. However, this will only be a sampling of their inventory. They won’t have room to store or transport everything they make.
2. Art Galleries
Art galleries may be seasonal or year-round businesses. Their hours depend highly upon the local and/or local tourist market. However, thanks to their indoor nature, you need not worry about the harsh elements while browsing though the art on display.
Thanks to the nature of their business model, art galleries display art exhibitions every day. These exhibitions may not be grand or splendid. In fact, they may not be remarkable at all. However, they are art exhibitions still.
Every so often an art gallery may choose to feature an artist or a particular group of artists in exhibition. The gallery may choose a theme and except submissions. These exhibitions often last for a certain amount of time and then end in favor of another exhibition. They may or may not advertise such exhibitions.
Now, because you are attending an art exhibition at an art gallery, you can about guarantee the art is for sale. You can buy practically any piece of art you see at an art exhibition hosted by an art gallery. However, you probably will not be buying directly from the artist. You’ll purchase the art from the gallery. This means the price might be a bit higher than if you purchased from the artist directly.
3. Museum Exhibitions
Another place you may find an art exhibition is at a museum. Such places draw visitors seeking knowledge and culture. Some museums are free to enter and others charge an entrance fee.
Museums also have continual exhibitions in addition to rotating exhibitions. These may be seasonal or special one-time event exhibitions. You must obtain a schedule to see what exhibitions are current and upcoming. Some publish this information online while others print up flyers with the information.
Outside of a well-prepared art gallery, a museum is often the best place to present an art exhibition. You will have plenty of room and light to see and appreciate the art on display as the staff prepare areas for proper display. You’ll also benefit from reading blurbs about the art and the artist as prepared by the museum curators.
Of all the common art exhibition locations listed here, this is the one which you cannot expect to buy art from. In fact, it might be insulting to do so. If you are interested in purchasing a piece, you could ask if the museum owns the piece or not. If not, then you might inquire about the artist. Then, if you can contact the artist directly, then you stand a much better chance of buying the piece after the end of the exhibition.
Conclusion
In conclusion, you can buy art at certain art exhibitions but not at others. Outdoor art fairs and art gallery exhibitions are great places to buy art from. Museum exhibitions are not. If you find yourself in the market for art, then choose your exhibition carefully. Choose an exhibition where you can buy art and where you’ll find art you’ll like. Then you will walk away with lighter pockets but laden with new beauty for your home or office. If you need some assistance with buying fine art, you might check out this guide to buying fine art.
