Art Galleries Near Me | Where To Buy Photography
Looking for the best photography and art galleries near you to browse, appreciate and purchase photography wall art for your home? Maybe you are looking for a less cliche location for a fun first date or night on the town? An art gallery may be just what you are looking for! While most major cities around the world have a large selection of beautiful art galleries that may tickle your fancy, I am going to give you a few reasons below that you may want to consider shopping from the comfort of your home, combining quality art with real world value for the best of both worlds! Before we dive in, let's dig a little deeper to learn about art galleries in general and what they have to offer including the positives and potential downsides of purchasing art from one.
Five Ways To Discover Art & Photography Galleries Near You
1. Embrace Technology: Online Tools and Platforms
In today's digital age, finding art and photography galleries has never been easier. Embrace the convenience of online tools and platforms that enable you to search for galleries based on location, genre, and artists. Websites like Artfinder, Artsy, and Saatchi Art provide extensive databases of galleries and allow you to explore their collections virtually. This way, you can browse, discover, and even purchase artwork from the comfort of your own home.
2. Engage with Local Art Communities
Connecting with local art communities is an excellent way to stay informed about the latest exhibitions, art events, and gallery openings. Attend art festivals, workshops, and artist talks, where you can network with fellow art enthusiasts and professionals. Engaging with local artists, curators, and gallery owners will help you gain insights into the vibrant art scene in your area, ultimately leading you to the top art and photography galleries.
3. Leverage Social Media
Social media platforms, such as Instagram and Facebook, have become powerful tools for discovering art and photography galleries. Many galleries use these platforms to showcase their collections, provide updates on upcoming exhibitions, and share behind-the-scenes glimpses of their artistic endeavors. Follow local artists, art influencers, and gallery pages to stay connected and discover new galleries that align with your interests.
4. Explore Local Cultural Hubs
One of the best ways to find art and photography galleries is to explore your local cultural hubs. Vibrant neighborhoods often house numerous galleries, making them ideal destinations for art lovers. Look out for areas known for their artistic communities, such as downtown districts, historic neighborhoods, and creative enclaves. Visit nearby museums, cultural centers, and artist studios as they often collaborate with galleries and can provide valuable information on current exhibitions.
5. Seek Recommendations and Reviews
Tap into the collective knowledge and experiences of fellow art enthusiasts by seeking recommendations and reading reviews. Online forums, art blogs, and review websites like Yelp and TripAdvisor can provide valuable insights into the quality and reputation of local galleries. Additionally, reach out to friends, artists, and gallery-goers for personal recommendations. Hearing firsthand experiences can guide you towards galleries that align with your artistic preferences.
Top Cities With Thriving Art Scenes
All of the US cities in the list below have a large assortment of both art and fine art photography galleries, each with full support from the local government and the residents who call these cities home. As you will quickly see, the majority of these towns are also high traffic tourism hubs, a much-needed feature of most successful art galleries. Without tourism, the art galleries in these areas would quickly saturate their consumer markets and be forced to close their doors. One truth worth remembering is that with high tourism comes high costs of goods and services but not necessarily high value. We will come back to that point below.
• Chicago, Illinois
• Carmel-by-the-Sea, California
• Houston, Texas
• Laguna Beach, California
What About Nature Photography Galleries?
Where museums and fine art galleries have dominated the art scene in the past, fine art nature photography galleries have been growing in popularly due to both advancements in digital camera technology and contemporary high-end printing methods producing world class photographic art. A far cry from notebook paper sized pictures you may be used to seeing, these beautiful galleries are full of large, museum quality wall art that can transform your space from flat to fabulous. If you have been looking for that special something to tie together your decor or provide a statement for everyone who enters the room, large format nature photography may be just what you are looking for, whether you know it or not!
Historic live oak trees all dressed in their spring greens tower over tourists and travelers inside Central Park in New York City, New York. Fine Art Limited Edition of 50.
The Benefits of Visiting An Art Gallery
There are many reasons to visit a local art gallery near you or on your next vacation out of town. Aside from something new, or a way to spend time in between dinner and a movie, visiting a local art gallery may tell you something about yourself in the process. Here are just a few of the benefits and reasons to visit a gallery near you.
1. Free Admission: Everyone likes free right? I know I do. You don't even have to argue about who is covering the check. ;)
2. The Best Contemporary Art: In most cases, an art gallery is successful due to the quality of the art that it offers. While there are certainly many opinions of what is "best" you are sure to find something that will make you think, feel and hopefully smile.
3. See Famous Art: By visiting contemporary art galleries now, you can get to know an artist before they become famous, allowing you to be a part of their journey and cash in at the same time before they grow in popularity and price.
4. Meditation: Art can bring about a wide range of feelings, including serenity, something that all of us can use a lot more of these days.
5. Creativity: Nothing will boost your own creativity quite like viewing the art of others. The simple art of viewing can spur your next great thought or idea.
Golden light from the early morning sun illuminates a forest of beautiful aspen trees at the peak of autumn in Telluride, Colorado. Fine Art Limited Edition of 50.
So Are There Any Downsides?
As we have covered the benefits of visiting nearby art galleries, you may be wondering if there are any downsides? While there are not many, there is one simple fact that can actually put a dent in your wallet. Operating an art gallery is costly, and these costs of operation must be covered to remain in business. With only one revenue stream possible, who do you think is going to bear the brunt of these costs? Yes, I'm talking to you. While fine art and high-end photography are both time consuming and in many cases expensive to produce, the inflated costs of ownership in your local gallery can be upwards of ten times the cost or more! These high costs do not add real world value to the artwork, and, in many cases, potential resale value of the art will be far lower than the price you paid. To some, this doesn't even matter. To others, it matters a great deal.
Aaron Reed Luxury Fine Art
Due to the high costs of producing gallery quality photographic art, I decided early on in my career that I would rather build my business and my brand around creating limited edition art that could be afforded by more than just the rich and affluent. If I were to open and maintain a physical gallery, I would need to quadruple my pricing structure overnight. This increase in cost would not add any value to your purchase as a collector and would only further feed the retail machine that drove it. To meet the goal of keeping my work affordable while maintaining the same level of quality, I choose to work out of my home office. As a result I am challenged everyday to market my work to potential customers who in many cases have never viewed it in person. I am proud to say that of the thousands of prints I have sold in my career I have never had a single customer unhappy with their purchase. The fact of the matter is that the prints I offer are even MORE beautiful in person than the images that represent them online.
I go to great lengths to ensure my prints visually match these representations so there are no surprises for my customers, other than how much more beautiful they are in person than they expected. Because I work from my home office, I am able to offer my work at prices that are much more reasonable than those who operate galleries and have to pay their employees, lease agreements and the general operating costs of this type of retail store. While the actual production costs of producing these pieces certainly isn't inexpensive, the profit margin I maintain is going to allow you to have beautiful art in your home AND still pay the mortgage to keep the walls up around it. In addition, I work personally with each and every collector, never leaving you to deal with an art director, consultant or office staff. You can reach me just about anytime I am not sleeping via email or telephone and I always return customer inquiries within 24 hours.
Elevate your home with Aaron Reed's limited edition photography print, Sand City, from his American Southwest Photography collection. Order yours today! Fine Art Limited Edition of 50.
