There is a subject that is sometimes controversial both with artists and galleries. That is the subject of Vanity Galley shows. For those who do not know what a Vanity Gallery is, to make a simple explanation, it is a gallery or show that provides artists with a space to show their artwork. What makes them different from many other galleries is that they charge artists an up-front fee to display their artwork. They also on occasion have short term one night events that make a big presention of the show but provide little or no information about the individual artists, nor attempt to promote the image of the artists represented.
The mechanics of all galleries requires that they turn a profit. Where traditional galleries differ from vanity shows is that the traditional ones make a profit from the reputation of quality artists that they screen before accepting, Vanity Galleries show the art of often anybody who will pay. In the eyes of the art world this means that anybody who uses these shows could be either seasoned, or those who are completely untrained. What this means is that such a show tells nothing of an artist’s skill, or even worse may presumably speak to the low quality of the artist.
For this reason that there is more of a negative comment about the reputation of an artist, most seasoned artists completely avoid such shows.
Do I attempt to say that Vanity Galleries are evil? No. I do want to make clear to new artists however that purveyors of such shows are quite often completely apathetic to the sales of the work of the artist because they have already been paid by the submission fees. This being said, many completely new artists who have no reputation at all can use such a show to bring their friends to and show their art and get an idea of how it feels to see their work on a wall. They can do so to get someone to look at their art, critique it, and take a little notice of it.
In general though, just as the other artists at such shows are new at making art, so are the viewers of such show. Not as much constructive criticism is to be found. For the most part, there are more effective ways of promoting the artwork of beginners using the same amount of money
I would suggest portable portfolios, visiting galleries that contain the artwork of those whom they find to be producing interesting works, and beginning to talk about art in such circles. Art sales may not happen as immediately as a Vanity Show, but all good things take time if we are to produce quality. If the artist is sincerely in love with at and not just hope for profit, recognition will come. In the meantime the artist will be building some valuable knowledge about the world of art and their artistic motivations.
Good art and artists are like any other career. To be great there is no avoiding training, hard work, networking and skills at selling.
