Art Gallery for Photographer?

[maybe]

Just throwing question here...

What do you think of an art gallery focusing on photography works?

And would you consider exhibiting your works, if there is a affordable platform?

Thanks.

 

[Nisa]

I think that you should just keep your money in the pocket.
At least it will warm your pocket longer.

Would be nice to have, but then how long can you keep it running?
The rental cost? and the staff?

 

[wildstallion]

I think that you should just keep your money in the pocket.
At least it will warm your pocket longer.

Would be nice to have, but then how long can you keep it running?
The rental cost? and the staff?

I agree, but id be interested in any business plan you have.

 

[theRBK]

there used to be one at MICA building... no more...

 

[mattlock]

you'll need someone who has clout in the art market to do something like that
you need a good list of potential clients to sell the work to
you need a good selection of work (you need a good curator)

 

[maybe]

Well, the role of art gallery is like being a middle man.
Hence the gallery will have to "grow" both the clients and as well as the photographers (works).

Then my questions is are there sufficient quality works out there to start with for the gallery to sell? And this will return back to is there people willin to buy to start with? This sounds like a 'egg and chicken' issue.

Logical thinking is art gallery as a professional front will give confidence for potential audience to start somewhere to start buying. But are photographers/artists ready to work closely with gallery to start where??? Meaning whether it is just 12 pieces of works or even just 4 pieces? Are photographers in the first place willing to take a more professional stand in producing their works in order to enter into the art markets?

Well... all these are just thinking out loud.... :think:

 

[maybe]

Oh yes... what happened to the one in MICA?
And what happened to the one in KL, Malaysia?

Anyone has answers or idea ...???? :think:

 

[wildstallion]

One question. Will you charge photographers to display their works first even if you have no client base? I think it will be harder to develop clients without images to back it all up, but im not sure many people would take the risk paying to display their works when you have no clients to begin with. Chicken and the egg again.

 

[maybe]

If the gallery is making visible efforts in marketing and publicising my works, and offer valuable advise such as editing my works etc. Then my answer is yes to paying a gallery even there is definite no. of clients.

What do I mean by visible efforts:
1) Media canvassing
2) Press Kit
3) Design & print of invitation postcard
4) Active markting consistency - such as ads placement in relevant arts magazine.
5) Perhaps even pay for opening reception if it is a solo exhibition

The truth is both parties (both photographers and collectors) are young and will need a consistent effort to reach out, and to educate and to grow over time. A gallery relationship with both parties are never fly by night biz, it is about mutual trust built over time. At the end of the day, artists and gallery need each other, it has to start somewhere on a reasonable fair ground that allow both artists and gallery to grow together.

Question to ask: as a photographer/artist, are you looking at buyer or collector?
Never easy to answer this question....

 

[hongsien]

Question to ask: as a photographer/artist, are you looking at buyer or collector?
Never easy to answer this question....

If a photographer or any artist looks at what a buyer/collector wants, then in my eyes he/she is not an artist anymore cause they have become commercialised and are not making art according to how they 'see' things themselves, but what they perceive as sellable (which may change over time too)......

They are not making art to 'say' something, but are making art just to sell only.......

HS

 

[maybe]

Highly recommend the book "The Gift" by Lewis Hyde.

Question to ponder:
If an artist creates something that sells, does it make his talent/gift or ability anything lesser? How to reconcile the fact that artist also need to eke out a living just like anyone?


Just curious, would you sells your work as art if someone fall in love with the images you created?

 

[hongsien]

Highly recommend the book "The Gift" by Lewis Hyde.

Question to ponder:
If an artist creates something that sells, does it make his talent/gift or ability anything lesser? How to reconcile the fact that artist also need to eke out a living just like anyone?


Just curious, would you sells your work as art if someone fall in love with the images you created?

Off course that is fine, it is the other way around that in my eyes is not art anymore........(If you understand what I meant)

HS

 

[Canonised]

Estimate monthly expenses: $8,000
Gallery owner's Commission : 30% ? (too high, too low?)
Turnover : $30,000 to breakeven?
Estimate price per photo, say $300, possible to sell 3 or 4 photos per day?:dunno:

 

[maybe]

It is the same question that people asked how art gallery can operate...


Estimate price of a photo starts from abt $450 onwards till abt $3,500....
Check out how some galleries plan their pricing and sales strategy....

 

[maybe]

Back to the question on art gallery for photography works...

Do you think photographer in general knows how to enter into the art market, and to sell their works?

 

[mattlock]

Back to the question on art gallery for photography works...

Do you think photographer in general knows how to enter into the art market, and to sell their works?

no I don't think photographers know how to enter the art market
but the art market as in any country is a highly political thing. my friend in an art gallery has already told me how much trouble it is selling photography even for a few hundred dollars, I'll be really surprised if you can sell something for a few thousand (Russel Wong can sell a print for a few thousand, but how many people apart from that?)

 

[maybe]

Why is it so hard to sell? :dunno:

1) Nature of the medium?
2) Lack of knowledge of photo art among existing art collector?
3) Gallery lack of expertise/knowledge on photo art in order to be competent middleman?
4) Artistic Quality of the photo art is not up to par with other mediums?

I asked all these questions because an issue/situation need to be explored in depth and breadth. Pls pardon me if I sound very lor soh here. ;p

 

[Canonised]

From my own observation, I notice that there are actually very few good local art collectors .... most of the collectors are mostly rich and successful people, who collects arts for certain reasons, mainly: the potential increase in value of the collections, how famous is the artist, what other collectors want desparately, how famous is that collection, and value for money. That is partially why the prices differ so much .... for the unknown artists, their works are relatively low but for those famous, our local collectors can really upz the prizes.... :think:
In the Western countries, people collect arts mainly because they like them, and as such a lot of good works by unknown artists can be had for a reasonable price. So paying $300 - $500 for a good image is rather common, but definately not in this region .... but I notice that the scene is changing and a lot of young people are actually buying low-cost arts now :thumbsup:

 

[maybe]

It is not "Show me the money" ... It is more like "Show me the pathway" into arts market.

Art Gallery will have to stand the test of representing quality works... and the "artistic quality" is hard to quantify/qualify... thus the profile, background, education of a artist also play a part in the selection and pricing process...

Just a thought...

 

[maybe]

From my own observation, I notice that there are actually very few good local art collectors .... most of the collectors are mostly rich and successful people, who collects arts for certain reasons, mainly: the potential increase in value of the collections, how famous is the artist, what other collectors want desparately, how famous is that collection, and value for money. That is partially why the prices differ so much .... for the unknown artists, their works are relatively low but for those famous, our local collectors can really upz the prizes.... :think:
In the Western countries, people collect arts mainly because they like them, and as such a lot of good works by unknown artists can be had for a reasonable price. So paying $300 - $500 for a good image is rather common, but definately not in this region .... but I notice that the scene is changing and a lot of young people are actually buying low-cost arts now :thumbsup:

Yup. photo art is an affordable medium for young collectors.