Places where art is exhibited and sometimes sold to make a profit of some kind are called art galleries. The difference between an art gallery and an art museum are simple. An art gallery is a place where art is displayed for the purpose of it being sold to make money. An art museum is a place where the most famous art in the world hangs, and it is not for sale. Selling art is the primary function of an art gallery because it needs the profit from any sale to thrive. Throughout New York, you are sure to find what you are looking for. Maybe it is within the walls of the DCKT Contemporary Gallery, where everything is unique.

A gallery exhibits art for the enjoyment of others, with the added bonus of being able to purchase their favorite pieces when the exhibit concludes. This means that the gallery changes frequently, depending on how often shows are conducted. A gallery often puts together a show based on the work of one individual artist with the option of work from other artists put together. Visual art is the most common form shown in a gallery, with paintings being the most popular. Artists who are sculptors or photographers are able to display their work as well. Unlike museums, galleries typically collect a commission from each piece that is sold. Rarely is admission charged, although there are some galleries that prefer to do things that way. Sometimes artists are supported by grants, and they are able to win awards and prizes. The Guggenheim Museum in New York presents the Hugo Boss award every other year to an artist or a group of artists working in any place anywhere. Hugo Boss clothing company sponsors this by presenting the winner or winners with a $100,000 check.

Contemporary art is a term used to describe the modern era of art. Though there is speculation, it is thought that art developed since World War II until present day is considered contemporary art. There is no reference to a specific style of art when discussing contemporary art. It is exhibited in many ways. There are contemporary art galleries, publicly funded arts organizations, contemporary art museums, or by the artists themselves. Most contemporary art galleries are found grouped together in certain districts of bigger cities, although medium sized cities are known to have one or two galleries for local artists. Corporations are becoming more and more a part of the contemporary art world by organizing and sponsoring local art galleries, and even displaying some inside their own walls.

Contemporary art galleries have been criticized because of their showing of art that is not considered by others to be art of this form. Art created by common people is literally what contemporary art is, but there are always skeptics somewhere. Contemporary art can be at odds with the world at times because of what is thought to be art and what is not. Respected galleries and other institutions are under fire because of the thought that they do not share another point of view. It goes back to the age old question of what is art, and what constitutes it to be so. It doesn't stop those ambitious artists out there who want to get their work out there, though.

By John Downes

National Gallery London
The National Gallery of London features works by European painters from the Renaissance to the Impressionist era. You will marvel at the beauty of work by Da Vinci, Botticelli, Renoir, Cézanne and Vincent Van Gogh. At the Gallery there are plenty of exhibitions, lecture programmes, audiovisual productions and guided tours for adults and children alike!

Entrance is free to the National Gallery and the Gallery is open from 10am to 6pm daily, and Friday until 9pm.

Somerset House
Located in the fashionable West End alongside Waterloo Bridge, the wonderful architecture and art at Somerset House will give you a warm welcome - and the year long programme of live arts and visual performances will definitely add to your visit! The art gallery here features work from Rubens, Manet, Cezanne and Van Gogh. The brand new Embankment Gallery offers over 700m of exhibition space with a focus on modern and contemporary art.
Safra Fountain Court is a venue for open-air film screenings and summer concerts, and an impressive ice rink in the winter!

The Royal Academy of Arts
The Royal Academy of Arts was founded in 1768. It is the oldest art collection establishment in Britain. It is located in the West End area on Piccadilly. Some of the best exhibitions in London are held here. The Summer Exhibition that is held annually features work by emerging artists. Some of the wonderful works of art on display here include paintings by Gainsborough, a sculpture by Michelangelo, and a copy of the "Last Supper" by Da Vinci.

The Royal Academy of Arts is open from 10am to 6pm daily and 10pm on Fridays.
Tate Modern
No trip to London is fulfilled without taking a trip to Tate Modern. It is one of the best-known buildings in London, and located along the banks of the Thames in the place where the Bankside Power Station once was. Check out the Turbine Hall, which extends the length of the whole building, and enjoy the art gallery for free which features work by art legends ranging from Cézanne to Jackson Pollock to Andy Warhol.

Tate Britain
Tate Britain is home to the largest collection of fine art from Britain in the world. The Gallery displays work from the last 500 years - including work from Gainsborough, Constable, Hepworth and Bacon. The Clore Gallery in particular is well worth a visit. Tate Britain is open daily from 10am to 17.50pm.

National Gallery and Portrait Gallery
This Gallery is located to the north of Trafalgar Square, and is home to some of the finest modern art in Europe, featuring esteemed artists from Rembrandt to Van Gogh. If you are visiting with the family, the kids will love the National Portrait Gallery next door, and you will have fun as you all put names to the portraits of famous British people from the Tudor Kings era to the present.

The Hayward Gallery
This Gallery is the focal point of the visual arts at Southbank Centre. There are regular art exhibitions here featuring work by Gormley, Flavin and Lichtenstein. The Brutalist style of architecture in this gallery will lead to a conflict of emotions for you - you will either love it or loathe it!

The Wallace Collection
Enjoy some pre 20th century art at the Wallace Collection, in the Manchester Square area which is located off Oxford Street. The Wallace Family once owned this wonderful building. If you want a break from shopping at Oxford Street then this is the place to go! It features a brilliant collection of 18th century French paintings and furniture. The most famous artist on display here is Franz Hals. The gallery is open from 10am to 5pm.

Guildhall Art Gallery
This gallery is located in the Guildhall Building, located off Gresham Street. It has a huge collection of art, but around 250 paintings are only displayed at a time. The Gallery was opened in 1999 to the public. The building is of historical importance as it was nearly destroyed by a Nazi air raid in 1941. There are plenty of exhibitions here, with varying themes explored.

Whitechapel Gallery
If you are visiting the East End areas of London such as Petticoat Lane Market and Brick Lane, then Whitechapel Gallery is well worth a visit. It is located at 80-82 Whitechapel High Street, and features some great modern art and paintings from emerging artists.

Hope you enjoyed our guide to the Top 10 Art Galleries of London. The best way to travel around the UK and explore wonderful cities like London is to hire a car.

Digital art is a new breed of fine art. Digital artists have forged new ways to express their creativity with their computer-aided tools. Digital art galleries exhibit of artwork created with the help of computers.

There are a number of categories available in digital art such as computer-drawn art, digital painting, enhanced photography, digital photo painting, 2D and 3D digital art, techno, and algorithmic art. In addition to artwork, digital art galleries usually provide a wide selection of digital art CDs, books, periodicals, and journals.

The availability of photograph-manipulation software has increased the popularity of digital art. Mainly, there are two types of artwork: 2D and 3D graphics. The collections in digital art galleries generally include specially designed 2D and 3D graphics, motifs, drawings, digital photos, animated artworks, and specially taken photos. Digital paintings, prints, digital imaging, and mixed-media works are the other items commonly found in digital art galleries. You can view different versions of the same photos. For the creation of these different types artwork, image-editing software, various scanners, and desktop printers are used.

Digital art galleries mostly come online. They allow individuals to post their own artwork in different categories. Many online digital art galleries provide for sharing and learning art experience. Some of them offer low-cost education for individuals who are interested in learning digital art and design software. Digital art galleries also conduct exhibitions and competitions.
As the commercial illustration industry is growing with digital art technology, digital art galleries have become very popular all over the world. They assist artists and graphic designers in expressing their creativity in a short film, art piece, or photograph.

Christian art galleries showcase the finest collections of Christian-related art prints and photographs. They generally feature spiritual and inspirational art prints, paintings, and pictures created by religious and other artists. Pieces of artwork displayed in these galleries highlight God's glory, his wonderful creations, and Biblical themes.

Bible themes have been artistically brought to life in many Christian art galleries. Modern expressions and interpretations of conventional Christian symbols and images are among the other items exhibited in Christian art galleries.

Christian art galleries, as a rule, carry pictures of different stages of the life of Jesus. These pictures include face portraits, the Last Supper, crucifixion, and resurrection. Art print categories are generally comprised of angels, eagles, Noah's ark, Biblical events, Jesus at prayer, Christmas, and lighthouses. Most Christian art galleries carry songbooks, Christian CDs, worship software, worship resources, and videos. Sculptures and collector plates are also available. These galleries also display collections of oil paintings, Jerusalem pictures, mosaic designs of Bible illustrations, and icons of Jesus Christ and Madonna. Pictures are usually available in thousands of custom-framing and mounting options.

Spiritual artwork inspires your faith. A visit to a Christian art gallery is a spiritual as well as aesthetic experience for anyone. In these galleries, you find inspirational Christian art prints, posters, canvases, and Christian-themed sculpture, pottery, wood carvings, and stained glass pictures. Christian craft items such as Easter cookies, angel clothespins, fiery chariots, prayer books, Ten Commandment tablets, Christmas advent chains, door-hanging jingle bells, and Bible covers are also available in most galleries. These items can beautify your home and office.

Available on the Internet are hundreds of online galleries that display many original and unique digital images that you can freely use for personal, evangelistic, other non-commercial uses.

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