The exact location of the art gallery in question is classified info – it would be a “security risk” if I shared it, but yeah, I was otherwise inspired beyond measure when I came across what looked like a non-functional warehouse which turned out to be an art storage facility. All I’m prepared to say is that it’s somewhere in Greater Leeds, so yeah, good luck trying to locate it!
What this little gem of an art gallery is, is indeed in actual fact an art gallery, but not a physical one. Yes, it houses a lot of very good pieces of art, mostly paintings and pencil/charcoal drawings (realism), but it’s not really open for walk-in exhibitions. I only really came across it by following a friend and fellow artist down a rather dodgy-looking, narrow alley, making an extraordinary effort to let him know it was me just in case he might have thought some stranger was trying to mug him.
The art gallery sells art online, so that’s why the pieces are covered up and stored away to protect them from elements such as dust as well as the rather damp air, after they’re photographed to be displayed in the online catalogue. If you’re thinking of pulling off a modern-day art heist you’re out of luck because no, the shipping address from whence the pieces you order on line come isn’t the same as the location of the warehouse where the pieces are actually housed.
So anyway, while I would imagine this makes for a great story to read on an art blog, what I’m trying to bring attention to are the hidden dynamics of the art industry as it exists in the modern day. Yes, those traditional art galleries do indeed still exist and you can take your pick from quite a few of them across Leeds, but there is a whole lot more to it than just displaying pieces up on the wall and allowing people to walk in and view them with the potential to make an offer to purchase.
So much more goes into the running of an art gallery or any aspect of a business which forms part of the art industry for that matter. There is the online element which basically just cuts out the art-gallery as a middleman of sorts, which means artists can now go directly to the market with their pieces and sell them by themselves.
At the same time there is a certain prestige and validation associated with works that are listed with a gallery, so there is definitely still a place for traditional galleries.
Other dynamics which people may not know about however would include elements such as dealing with unique iterations of workplace safety and operational procedure safety compliance, so the industry is not immune to the scrutiny of the likes of Hansen Injury Law and the services this law firm offers. Cases of on-the-job injuries and the likes are very much a part of the art industry as they are part of any other industry, with the finer details making the subsequent cases a little bit trickier to deal with.
