BRIEF GUIDE TO THE ART WORLD Pt. 1

What comes to mind when I say, "The art world?" I recently asked my mom the same question and she replied, “Places with art.” She isn’t wrong, but what are those places and why do they matter?

The term art world was coined by Arthur Danto in his 1964 essay “The Artworld” and has come to be defined as a network of people involved in the production, commision, preservation, promotion, criticism, and sale of art.

The art world can seem complicated. This post, the first in a two part series, aims to lay the groundwork for understanding the art world. We’ll begin with the different institutions and then move on to some influential art professions you'll encounter. The idea is to make the art world less complicated so anyone can enjoy art and feel confident about their place within the art community.

1. MUSEUM

Probably the most easily identifiable institution within the art world. The purpose of a museum is to house and care for a collection of artifacts, in this case, those of artistic importance. Think of the museum as a place to preserve culture while also educating the public.

Many of the larger museums are found in big cities, but according to the American Alliance of Museums about 26% of museums are located in rural areas. So chances are you have a museum within driving range of your location. For those of you who don’t, I recommend doing a quick google search and finding a museum’s website. It’s becoming increasingly popular for museums to have their collections online.

Some of the more popular museums are The Metropolitan Museum of Art (The MET) in New York City, the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC, and the Louvre in Paris, France.

2. GALLERY

Similar to museums, galleries are dedicated to the exhibition of art, however, they are also dedicated to the selling of art. The museum was a house to care for artifacts and preserve culture. The gallery is a place to promote an artist and build a community.

Galleries can be found all over the world, just like museums, but a gallery is quite possibly more accessible than a museum. The nearest museum to my small town is an hour away but my town does have a small art gallery.

While I love museums, I think galleries are special. Museums tend to exhibit the works of local and international artist giving the viewer a broader scope of art and art history. Galleries, on the other hand, tend to show the works of artists from the surrounding area. You get a better sense for the local or regional culture which makes it easier to connect with the art. Of course, because galleries are in the business of selling art there are going to be some big name galleries selling and exhibiting big name artist.

3. AUCTION HOUSE

This is the institution I am least familiar with and, I won’t lie, most intimidated by. Everything about auction houses screams money! The clientele, the selling prices, hell, even the starting prices are steep. While most of us want to shy away from the auction house it’s important to keep an eye on them. Will-Ellsworth Jones wrote, “The strength of an art movement is all too often measured by the prices the movement’s leading figures command in the auction house.”

Despite shying away from this institution I think it’s safe to bet almost all of us know of at least one auction house. Did you guess Christie’s? Or maybe Sotheby’s? It’s no wonder we know these names, Sotheby’s has around 90 locations and Christie’s has 10 salesroom locations and more offices and representatives located around the world.

Another influential auction house I stumbled upon in my research is Phillip’s.

4. ART MAGAZINE

Sometimes overlooked as a part of the art world is the art magazine. The magazine serves as a way to reach a larger audience about upcoming exhibitions, auctions, artists, and trends in the art world.

Where ever books and magazines are sold, like Books a Million or Barnes and Noble, you are bound to find at least one art magazine. Don’t worry though, if you can’t find one you can always go online. Most now have websites and some magazines are strictly online, like Hyperallergic, which is quickly becoming a favorite of mine.

My favorite thing about art magazines is you can is you can tailor your art experience. The downside is they can get pretty expensive. If you’re looking for one to read I would recommend first browsing the website and signing up for a weekly newsletter. A few I recommend are The Art Newspaper and Artsy.

5. ART FAIR/FESTIVAL/SHOW

This is another part of the art world I have little experience with. Artspace describes art fairs as “trade shows” where different galleries and artists exhibit artwork to collectors, curators, other artworld VIPs, and the public.

Art Basel, one of the most recognized art fairs, was established in 1970 and continues today. These fairs have become instrumental in not only showcasing new artwork and trends in the artworld, but also in pushing the contemporary artworld forward.

A few fairs on my bucket list are Art Basel and Art Basel Miami, Documenta, and Frieze.

6. ART SCHOOL

It’s pretty obvious the function of an art school: to teach art. This is where artists, curators, critics, and other art professional are made and where the networking starts.

Some popular art schools, such as SCAD, Juilliard, or the School of Art Institute in Chicago are strictly art schools but an individual can go to art school while attending a traditional four year college/university. We know them to be art departments.

One of the most famous, and influential, schools was the Bauhaus School of Design founded in Germany in 1919 . Many contemporary art schools and departments, including my alma mater Georgia Southern University, follow the curriculum of the Bauhaus. If you’re interested in learning more I recommend checking out this essay.

7. ART STUDIO

A designated space where an artist, or a group of artists, create art. It’s the place where an artist finds his/her voice, pushes boundaries, and learns to trust his/her crazy ideas. It’s where the magic happens!

Just as every artist is different, every studio space is different. Some artist set up a studio space on their kitchen table, some have a designated room in their home or even a separate space, away from home, and others have studios so small they can travel anywhere and everywhere with them. Then you have some artists with huge studio spaces and a large staff. Andy Warhol’s studio, The Factory, was one such space.

The studio is often seen as a sacred space for an artist but if you’re given the chance to visit I suggest accepting the invitation! This is a great opportunity to get a behind the scenes look at the art process, both physical and mental. If you’re able to get any insight into an artist and his/her work then you have a better chance of understanding the work and connecting with it.

BONUS!

Social Media. I felt it necessary to include because it’s changing the way the art world works and how people experience art.

We all know how the internet has drastically changed how we get information. We’ve already discussed how most of these institutions have expanded themselves to online. They’ve also found their own space in the social media realm. All aspects of the art world are now able to reach millions of viewers.

My favorite social media platform is Instagram. I have discovered so many new artists, museums, galleries, and magazines thanks to this app. And the best part...there’s no pressure to like, comment, or even understand what I’m looking at. I can simply scroll endlessly till I come across an image which resonates with me.

FINAL THOUGHTS

OK, so you’ve powered through this guide and now have a basic understanding of:

• The definition of "art world"

• The different institutions (museum, gallery, auction house, magazine, fair, school, studio)

• How they contribute to the art world.

GREAT! You are well on the way to finding your place in the art world. But there are still some unanswered questions. Why are curators so important? Who decides which artist will show at an art fair? Part two of this guide will be tackling those questions and more.

Till then, I hope you’ll take the time to check out some of those names I dropped, links I’ve included, or maybe even scroll through Instagram.

I’m curious, what are your favorite ways to experience art? Has this guide sparked an interest in trying new ways?

P.S. anyone wanting more information on these institutions should pick up a copy of Seven Days in the Art World by Sarah Thorton. It’s a great behind the scenes look at each institution.