gallerist
Americannoun
noun
Etymology
Origin of gallerist
First recorded in 1965–70; galler(y) ( def. ) + -ist ( def. )
Explanation
A person who owns or runs an art gallery can be called a gallerist. If you love the idea of buying and selling paintings and sculptures, being a gallerist might be your dream job. Gallerist, a relatively new word that was coined from gallery, is preferred by some in the art world to the older term art dealer. A gallerist handles the business side of art, representing specific artists by showing their work in a gallery and selling it to collectors, museums, and art enthusiasts. Many gallerists have college degrees in art history and a lifelong appreciation for art.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Cook was a bookseller, photographer and gallerist, and at one point we hear Oliver recall the rhythms of their home life, her partner printing pictures while she wrote poems at the kitchen table.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 2, 2026
Roberts is not only Saar’s gallerist but a close friend, someone who clearly loves her and thinks endlessly about the best way to preserve her artistic legacy alongside her family.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 7, 2026
In 2021, Mr. Wash won the audience award at the Hammer Museum’s “Made in L.A.” biennial and attracted the attention of gallerist Jeffrey Deitch.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 7, 2026
For weeks now, the former gallerist has been spending part of her days "revisiting my life" through old photo albums, smiling about everything she "had the chance to experience".
From Barron's ● Feb. 25, 2026
With all the difficulties that accompany being a gallerist these days, Ms. Cedar proves that it’s most rewarding to be a happy warrior.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 3, 2025
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
