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.

——————————

Discover more about Kathleen Warner’s origins and ethos in the article Faletto Directions which she has kindly provided to Italyisin.

‘Struggling artist’ is a phrase which will be well know to plenty of those attempting to peruse a career as an artist, and many still need to maintain day jobs to help deal with those mundane things such as paying off mortgages, bringing up children, and feeding themselves and their families.

However, many artists come up with work which could well be exploited by business, and, indeed, I spoke to an artist about this on Monday. What I suggested was that his work could be turned into another product by an enterprising company. Selling this product would then create an income for the business concerned, and generate royalty payments for the artist. Obviously those in business need to make profits to keep their companies going, and artists need to generate other income streams to help them raise funds to allow them to devote more time to their, for the want of a better word, art.

Artists come up with some excellent designs, which can be used in connection with a great variety of products. At a basic level from postcards to posters, but at a more innovative level, from curtains to car interiors. The possibilities are just about endless, and, potential, the resulting products would be original and eye catching.

Italy is in wants to encourage Italian contemporary artists to go down this path, even if, not all artists will appreciate seeing examples of their work incorporated into everything from mugs to mirrors. However, those who are open to the use of their work in connection with new product development, may possibly generate enough income to permit them to say goodbye to the day job, and be able to devote themselves to their creativity full time.

Of course, not every artist will find a business that is interested enough in their work to make a business propositions, but for those that do, life may well become a little easier.

If you happen to be a business owner who is looking for fresh new designs to use for some product line or other, and the work of one of the artists featured on Italy is in catches your eye, then please contact Italy is in , with details of how you would like to use the artist’s work, and Italy is in will then contact the artist concerned to see if he or she may be interested in taking the idea further.

In general, it would perhaps be fair to say that most artists would like their work to form part of limited edition products, however, those seeking wider exposure, may well be open to ideas resulting in the mass production of goods. They only way to discover what an artist may be interested in, is to establish contact.

Alex Roe of Italy is in speaks English and Italian, and can certainly make the approach necessary, as can Gaetano Salvo, who, while he does not speak English so well, would have no problem discussing business propositions with the artists concerned.

At the end of the day, business relationships of this type can be productive for artists and businesses, without forgetting, of course, the positive effect such partnerships can have on the ‘Made in Italy’ brand.

In the case that Italy is in is aware that an artist is open to business proposals, this will be mentioned in the artist’s profile.