What does a Gallerist do?

My view from the office
Have you every wondered what a gallerist does? It often looks like nothing is happening at an art gallery, but actually there is a lot going on. You just can’t always see it.

Day to day tasks 

A gallerist does a lot more than just tend to customers who come in the door. A real gallerist is in that little office and keeping very busy:

  1. sending out images of paintings by the artists he or she represents to designers or individuals who have requested them
  2. planning social media posts or e-mail blasts
  3. planning marketing for the next show
  4. following up with interested parties
  5. paying artists for work sold
  6. and endless other tasks required to keep a gallery running successfully.

A gallerist for a day

I was a Gallery Girl for a day when the gallery where I have my paintings needed someone to look after the gallery. I am not foolish enough to think it would be anything like the show “Gallery Girls”. I had a quiet, enjoyable few hours in the gallery and assisted customers with simple requests. There was no drama, no demanding designers, no old boyfriends showing up (this always happens on tv shows), and sadly . . . . no sales.

But since it’s not my gallery and I wasn’t running it, only babysitting for a day, I spent the hours examining the paintings up close, eating snacks I brought from home, flipping through magazines, eating snacks, checking e-mail, texting, and oh yeah, eating more snacks.

I hope this has given you a little insight if you ever wonder what does a gallerist do?

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