Meaning & use
art gallery
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Meanings
nouncountable
A building or room where paintings and other works of art are shown to the public.
Grammar: Countable: you can say a gallery, the gallery, or galleries. Often used with the definite article when referring to a specific one.
Patterns
- at an art gallery
- in an art gallery
- visit an art gallery
We spent the morning at the art gallery looking at the new exhibition.
The city's main art gallery is free to enter.
She works as a guide at a small art gallery downtown.
nouncountable
A business that sells paintings and other works of art.
Grammar: Countable: you can say a gallery or galleries. Often used with a possessive or name: a commercial gallery, the Tate Gallery.
Patterns
- a commercial art gallery
- buy something from an art gallery
- represent an artist
The painting was bought by a private collector from a London art gallery.
He runs an art gallery that specializes in contemporary sculpture.
Many young artists hope to be represented by a good art gallery.
Word forms
| plural | art galleries |
|---|
Common combinations
- visit an art gallery
- We plan to visit an art gallery while we're in Paris.
- at an art gallery
- There's an interesting photography show at the art gallery this month.
- art gallery exhibition
- The art gallery exhibition features works by local painters.
- commercial art gallery
- A commercial art gallery needs to sell art to survive.
- art gallery owner
- The art gallery owner greeted us warmly.
Synonyms and how they differ
- museum
- A museum is usually larger and covers history, science, or culture, not just art; an art gallery focuses on visual art.
- exhibition
- An exhibition is a temporary display of art, while an art gallery is the place where art is shown or sold.
Commonly confused: art gallery or gallery?
art gallery vs gallery
A gallery can also mean a balcony or a long room, but an art gallery specifically shows or sells art.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'art gallery' correctly?
Choose one answer.
The correct answer is B because an art gallery is a place where paintings and other art are shown or sold. A, C, and D are wrong because they describe activities or places unrelated to art.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “art gallery”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.