Gallery

Etymology

Middle English galerie, from Medieval Latin galeria, probably alteration of galilaea galilee

• Date: 15th century

Definitions

• 1 a : a roofed promenade : colonnade

b : corridor

• 2 a : an outdoor balcony

b Southern & Midland : porch, veranda

c : a platform at the quarters or stern of a ship

• 3 a : a long and narrow passage, apartment, or corridor

b : a subterranean passageway in a cave or military mining system; also : a working drift or level in mining

c : an underground passage made by a mole or ant or a passage made in wood by an insect (as a beetle)

• 4 a : a room or building devoted to the exhibition of works of art

b : an institution or business exhibiting or dealing in works of art

c : collection, aggregation <the rich gallery of characters in this novel — H. S. Canby>

• 5 a : a structure projecting from one or more interior walls (as of an auditorium or church) to accommodate additional people; especially : the highest balcony in a theater commonly having the cheapest seats

b : the part of a theater audience seated in the top gallery

c : the undiscriminating general public

d : the spectators at a sporting event (as a tennis or golf match)

• 6 : a small ornamental barrier or railing (as along the edge of a table or shelf)
• 7 : a photographer's studio

Description

An art gallery or art museum is a building or space for the exhibition of art, usually visual art. Museums can be public or private, but what distinguishes a museum is the ownership of a collection. Paintings are the most commonly displayed art objects; however, sculpture, decorative arts, furniture, textiles, costume, drawings, pastels, watercolors, collages, prints, artists' books, photographs, and installation art are also regularly shown. Although primarily concerned with providing a space to show works of visual art, art galleries are sometimes used to host other artistic activities, such as performance art, music concerts, or poetry readings.