Art World Snobbery – Part 1

Have you ever experienced snobbery in the art world? Felt inferior to a snooty 21 year-old gallery assistant simply because she doesn’t acknowledge you when you walk into the gallery? Made to feel like a pauper by a gallery director when you ask for a price on a piece of art? If you frequent galleries, it is more than likely that you can relate to one or more of these feelings. They can keep people from going into certain galleries or asking questions once they have mustered the courage to walk through the front door. This type of intimidation represents the side of the art world I despise. After many years of exposure to such pretensions, it doesn’t really affect me anymore. However, yesterday I was told about another form of snobbery that I needed to share.

Let me set the scene: Husband and wife walk into a gallery where they have bought at least 4 pieces from in as many years. They are dressed smartly and are clearly interested in a painting that will be shown in the gallery’s upcoming show. When they say they would like to purchase the work, the gallery owner starts to explain how he doesn’t know if he should sell the piece. He explains that when his other clients find out that he sold the painting before the show, without the right of first refusal, they would never buy from the gallery again. Fair enough, but why, the girl asks the owner, would you show me the preview of the exhibition if you didn’t have any intention of selling me the work? We have been to many shows where works have been sold before the opening night. We are clients of the gallery. We pay on time. We are serious collectors. And didn’t you just sell two works from the upcoming show at a recent art fair? The gallery owner backtracks and says that if someone wants to buy it, they cannot stop him or her. Husband and wife leave the gallery angry, irritated, and confused about the owner’s business acumen.

Now, in the defense of the gallery, it is common practice to set aside works for their serious collectors. However, LondonArtGirl believes that you should not publicly display the pieces if you haven’t contacted your clientele and given them the right of first refusal. It is basically saying that you can look at the works, but I don’t consider you important enough to buy them. You should not feel inadequate when you are trying to spend money.

The very next morning the wife sets off to the gallery armed only with her charm and a blank check. She walks into the small room and politely states that she and her husband would like to purchase the work if the gallery is comfortable with selling it before the show. The owner brusquely responds that he cannot stop someone from buying the work and begrudgingly agrees to the sale. The wife whips out her check and the owner is stunned. “You plan to pay now?” he says surprisingly. The wife hands over the filled in check and says that she doesn’t like leaving anything to chance. Thus eliminating any possibility of the owner selling the painting out from under her at a later date. After being informed that the piece must stay for the entirety of the show, the wife simply responds with a shrug and takes her receipt. As she walks towards the door, she turns around and says that she will see the owner at the opening next month. It takes all she has to suppress her smile.

The lesson here is not to be intimidated. If you want to go into a gallery, by all means walk through the front door and don’t pay attention to glares from the staff. If you want to know something about the work, simply ask. You are the client. And if you want to buy something, go after it and don’t be discouraged. After all, there is nothing worse than missed opportunities or the painting that got away.