Understanding the Difference Between Contemporary African Art and African Contemporary Art

Entering the art world can be intimidating at first, but if you understand the fundamentals of what you see in public, you will be one step closer to advancing your art career. This article will explain what an art gallery is and the distinction between an art gallery and an art museum. We’ll also look at the many types of art galleries you can see in our following blog posts and what you can do to get more involved with these institutional locations.

Art Gallery vs Art Museum

Before we take a deep dive into answering the question “what is an art gallery?”. It is critical to understand the distinction between a gallery and a museum. While art is the common denominator, the phrases “gallery” and “museum” provide the key to distinction. So, what’s the distinction between a gallery and a museum?

A gallery is a type of exhibition that is not necessarily the same as your local shop down the street, but in the context of art, it is a venue where anyone interested in art or an art collection exhibited at a specific gallery can view the work and even inquire about purchasing an artwork.

The South African National Gallery Cape Town South Africa Table Mountain in the background.

To recap, an art gallery is distinguished not only by the exhibition of art but also by the selling of art. An art museum, on the other hand, is a larger institution that also exhibits art. The artworks displayed in art museums vary according to funding, the sort of collection(s) owned or lent by the institution, and the type of museum.

Institutions, like art galleries, vary and can range from public art museums like the South African National Gallery to private collections.

These are often designated by historical organizations such as the Pretoria Art Museum. Art museums also have a component dedicated to preserving historical collections, known as the conservation and preservation department, which is overseen by specialists whose goal is to assure the proper upkeep of artwork, including storage.

Living Artist Emporium is a Johannesburg Art Gallery that promotes and sells premium art crafted by influential artists in South Africa. Contact us today for all your art-related requirements or view our wide variety of art pieces by visiting our shop.