Traditionally, artists seek to display their work in art galleries. However, entering the often exclusive gallery circle is extremely difficult.
Not being members of such exclusive clubs can prove to be a substantial, almost insurmountable, obstacle. After all, if nobody even knows about their work, then the chances of artists gaining valuable exposure, achieving recognition, and making sales, become virtually non-existent.
Banksy Does It
How about then, considering alternative galleries? Just what, you may well be asking, do you mean by alternative galleries? Well, for one thing, such galleries surround us. They are everywhere. Indeed, their potential for displaying art is almost limitless, as a certain Banksy knows very well.
However, for those artists who are not keen on spending their nights painting walls alla Banksy, there are plenty of other locations which can display art. Indeed, such locations need to display art, because art is an essential environmental component, not only complimenting, but forming key elements that can make or break the desired visual effect.
Kathleen Warner - Creating Alternative Galleries
California based art dealer Kathleen Warner, who is interestingly, of Italian origin, knows a lot about the creation of alternative galleries. Her company provides tailor-made solutions to a vast range of well known corporate and hospitality entities.
What Kathleen does is match artists’ works to her clients’ environments. Clients which, up to now, have included organisations such as Toyota, Bank of America, and the Hilton, Sheraton and Holiday Inn hotel groups.
It is a win-win situation. Kathleen’s clients obtain interesting works of art which create satisfying environments, while the artists involved, aside from earnings generated via their artistic contributions, gain a level of exposure which traditional galleries, for the most part, simply cannot rival.
Actually, gallery owners themselves are often frequent travellers, buzzing from one art fair to the next, and as travellers, they often stay in up-market hotels.
Just imagine if one such gallery owner finds interesting artwork on display in the foyer and other significant locations in the hotel in which he finds himself. Yes, she will inquire as to who the artist behind such work is. Then, it will probably only be a matter of time before the artist concerned is invited to display his work in a gallery.
That is not to mention the multitude of other potential clients an artist can reach as a result of having his or her works on show in boardrooms, corporate headquarters or hotel foyers.
Massive Opportunities for Artists
The range of opportunities stemming from corporate demand is huge, and of great benefit to contemporary artists - especially in Italy where it is so difficult for outstanding artists, such as Gianpietro Carlesso, and many others, to achieve the recognition they merit.
As a matter of fact, from 2009, Kathleen Warner will be in Italy to work her craft here and around Europe. Italyisin hopes to be collaborating with her, and will be supplying details of the Italian contemporary artists she thinks may be able to contribute to her clients’ projects.
In the 30 years or so that Kathleen has been in business, she has set up a valid form of alternative gallery network, something which Italian contemporary artists have much to gain from.
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Discover more about Kathleen Warner’s origins and ethos in the article Faletto Directions which she has kindly provided to Italyisin.
