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It's the elephant in the room that no one under 35 sees. Every once in a while, though, the beast becomes visible to all. Here's the online submission policy from a long-time gallery, first based in SoHo and now in Chelsea:
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"The gallery is looking for young emerging artists only. Fresh, innovative, interesting works and new ideas. Artists between ages 24 to 34. Preferable works: Abstract Sculptures, Figurative and Abstract Paintings."
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If you're under 34 it's an opportunity. If you're older than 34, it's an insult. To be fair, this dealer does have a roster of mid-career and late-career artists who have shown to considerable acclaim, and unlike some galleries that have culled its older artists, this one is simply looking to expand the roster.
Is this illegal? I don't know, but it sure feels wrong. Then again, the only reason I get to comment on it is because the submission note is posted on the gallery's website. Most age-specific galleries wouldn't be so upfront. (No, I'm not telling you which gallery it is, but its identity lies between A and Z.)
Dude, if you really want to find "fresh, innovative, interesting works," get out from behind your desk and make the rounds of the places they can be found: open studios, art fairs, MFA exhibitions, juried shows, non-profits and the various do-it-yourself exhibitions put on by eager and ambitious artists. Talk to curators, surf the web, and here's an idea: engage the people who come into your gallery. No one knows what's out there better than the people who are out there. Also, you may be surprised at who's making some of that "fresh" work you're seeking.
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But this post is not to pick on one late-career dealer. It's to hear from you.
. Do you suspect (or know) that age was a factor in an opportunity denied you?
. When did you first realize that age was an issue in your career?
. How do you deal with dates on your resume?
. Do you deflect inquiries about your age--or out and out lie?
. Do you know of other situations like the one I recounted?
. On the flip side, I have heard more than one dealer say that exhibition experience, a sales track record and enviable painting chops trump new and untried any day. Has that been your experience? .
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"The gallery is looking for young emerging artists only. Fresh, innovative, interesting works and new ideas. Artists between ages 24 to 34. Preferable works: Abstract Sculptures, Figurative and Abstract Paintings."
.
If you're under 34 it's an opportunity. If you're older than 34, it's an insult. To be fair, this dealer does have a roster of mid-career and late-career artists who have shown to considerable acclaim, and unlike some galleries that have culled its older artists, this one is simply looking to expand the roster.
Is this illegal? I don't know, but it sure feels wrong. Then again, the only reason I get to comment on it is because the submission note is posted on the gallery's website. Most age-specific galleries wouldn't be so upfront. (No, I'm not telling you which gallery it is, but its identity lies between A and Z.)
Dude, if you really want to find "fresh, innovative, interesting works," get out from behind your desk and make the rounds of the places they can be found: open studios, art fairs, MFA exhibitions, juried shows, non-profits and the various do-it-yourself exhibitions put on by eager and ambitious artists. Talk to curators, surf the web, and here's an idea: engage the people who come into your gallery. No one knows what's out there better than the people who are out there. Also, you may be surprised at who's making some of that "fresh" work you're seeking.
.
But this post is not to pick on one late-career dealer. It's to hear from you.
. Do you suspect (or know) that age was a factor in an opportunity denied you?
. When did you first realize that age was an issue in your career?
. How do you deal with dates on your resume?
. Do you deflect inquiries about your age--or out and out lie?
. Do you know of other situations like the one I recounted?
. On the flip side, I have heard more than one dealer say that exhibition experience, a sales track record and enviable painting chops trump new and untried any day. Has that been your experience? .
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And just to keep things open, all you "young and emerging artists" are welcome to join the conversation. Age will likely be an issue for you one day, too.
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Related Marketing Mondays topic: Isms and Phobias
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