28
Gallery in Brooklyn faked their lighting setup - caught them red handed
I went to the Obsidian Art space in Brooklyn last Saturday for a friend's showcase. They had these crazy bright LED panels that made every piece look AMAZING in the room. But I moved one of my prints 3 feet to the left under a regular ceiling light and the whole color profile shifted. The gallery owner got defensive when I asked about the calibrated lighting. Has anyone else noticed galleries using fake lighting that makes your art look completely different after you leave?
3 comments
Log in to join the discussion
Log In3 Comments
val_williams27d ago
dude that's so shady and honestly super frustrating. i had almost the exact same thing happen at a gallery in soho last year, they had these warm spotlights that made everything look super rich and museum quality, but i saw the same piece later at a friend's studio and it was totally washed out. it's such a scummy practice for places that are supposed to be professional, especially when they know artists are trying to sell their work. i really feel for you having to deal with that defensive owner on top of it all.
7
christopher94327d agoMost Upvoted
wait, but is it really that shady though? i feel like galleries using lighting to make art look better is basically the same thing as a restaurant dimming lights to make food look nicer. they're trying to sell the experience, not just the raw product. you wouldn't blame a clothing store for having flattering mirrors right? lol. plus if the artist sold a piece at the gallery, the buyer saw it under those lights and liked it. it's not like the gallery hid the lighting setup. and the owner getting defensive probably just means they think they're doing the right thing for their space.
4
kim_johnson5126d ago
Bring a small daylight bulb next time to compare. Always works for me.
1