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.
His early gallerist, Larry Gagosian, promoted him as the L.A. counterpart to art-world superstars Jean-Michel Basquiat and David Salle.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 6, 2026
Saar died in her sleep — just a few days short of her 100th birthday — in Los Angeles, her longtime gallerist Julie Roberts at Robert Projects said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 27, 2026
“You don’t see them walking around, and stopping in a gallery, and buying art, and trying to cultivate connoisseurship with their siblings or their children,” said Valerie Wade, a San Francisco gallerist.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 30, 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
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