Online Galleries

I talked a little about gallery shows that are documented online before, but that was in reference to shows that had physically existed in the gallery setting, photographs and video of which were then posted online. In this post, I will talk about specifically online galleries posting exhibitions of works that were never physically brought together in one place.

I have mixed feelings about the growth and spread of online galleries. In some ways, they are great because they provide artists with even more opportunities to get their work out there where it can be seen. There are less overhead costs for the gallery and insurance doesn't need to be factored in for the protection of artworks and liability issues. Also online galleries can allow artists to extend their influence even further beyond where they normally could do so while not having to think about travel or shipping. And buyers, patrons and viewers can check out these galleries from pretty much anywhere, so long as they know to do so.

Some online galleries charge the same entry fees for the opportunity to show one's artwork as a physical gallery would. This seems very selfish to me - the overhead costs are much lower so the costs incurred by the artists should be negligible. But, as I've said before, these fees will continue to increase and will continue to be charged so long as artists continue to pay them without question. Essentially, if we allow ourselves to be taken advantage of, we will be.

I am glad that there are so many online opportunities for artists cropping up because they allow for more artworks to be shown all over. And so long as they are well-publicized and get good traffic, they can greatly benefit the artists participating. I must admit, though, that I really like the physical presence of seeing an art show in person. It is far easier to immerse yourself in a piece of artwork, to study it in detail and to be emotionally impacted by it, when you are in the same space as it is. This is especially true of large pieces and installation works which can have a greater impact due to their sheer overwhelmingness, a quality that doesn't always come across in photographs or documentation.

However, I do appreciate that the online exhibitions and galleries offer opportunities to see work that I would never otherwise be able to experience in person due to its location. I just hope that both experiences can continue to exist in tandem and that the online galleries don't start to crowd out the physical ones, especially with money being so tight nowadays and so many physical galleries struggling to stay afloat.