A gallery is a place, virtually online or as a local business, where artwork is displayed, offered and sold. Most galleries display contemporary art or specialise in special topics and areas of art, such as paintings and graphic art.

The main source of income for art galleries is the sale of art and the commission taken from each artwork sold. At times though, art sales can be variable whereas the costs associated with running a gallery are fixed; so it's crucial not to put all of your eggs in one basket and find other revenue streams.

A commercial gallery is a for-profit business with a transactional model: collectors buy pieces of artwork on display so both the gallery and the artist get a cut of the revenue. These spaces typically curate selective shows based on what's likely to sell (by extension boosting their reputation in the art world).