Why Is an Art Gallery Different From an Art Museum?

Art|Art Museum

An art gallery and an art museum are both places to view, appreciate and purchase artwork. But there are some distinct differences between the two.

An art gallery is a space typically owned by a private individual or company for the purpose of displaying and selling works of art. The works in a gallery are usually created by contemporary or living artists, and galleries generally focus on only one type of art medium. Art galleries often have opening receptions which feature new works from the gallery’s featured artists, as well as an opportunity to meet the artists themselves.

An art museum, on the other hand, is typically a publicly funded institution that collects and displays artwork from various periods in history.

Art museums often focus on regional or cultural artwork as well as ancient artifacts and religious pieces. They often have permanent collections to allow visitors to view artwork over multiple visits, as well as special exhibits that rotate periodically.

Beyond their differences in collection and purpose, an art gallery is usually much smaller than an art museum and often has more of an intimate atmosphere than a museum. Additionally, when it comes to buying artwork from either location, it’s important to note that prices at an art gallery will tend to be higher than prices at an art museum.

Conclusion:
In conclusion, the main differences between an art gallery and an art museum are their size, atmosphere, collection focus, pricing structure and purpose. An art gallery is typically smaller with more of an intimate atmosphere where contemporary artwork can be bought at higher prices. An art museum is usually larger with publicly funded collections that feature regional or cultural artwork from various time periods at lower prices.