Sources

Sources To Buy Art

Our goal is to list as many sources to purchase art as possible within about 90 miles of Rochester, New York in this section. Initially we will build outward from the City of Rochester to Monroe County and then to the surrounding (six county) metro Rochester area. From there we will attempt to fill in sources from an additional fifteen counties outside metro Rochester (but inside the roughly 90 area around the City of Rochester).

Naturally, collectors can purchase works of art directly from artists as well as from these sources. Listing all the artists associated with our region would be impossible. Listing some artists and not others would not be appropriate. As a result, we will not list any individual artists on this site.

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Great sources for art-related events around town:

Please note the events found on these sites are not necessarily sponsored or co-sponsored by Rochester Art Collectors. For Rochester Art Collectors events please visit our EVENTS page.

City Newspaper is one of the most comprehensive and reliable sources for art related events in the Rochester region. This weekly publication takes special pride in the way it covers the arts. In addition to event listings City Newspaper also features the visual arts and provides the occasional art review. When you visit our SOURCES page you'll see them City there as well. If you want to learn about local artists, take special note of their archive of reviews.

First Friday Rochester - On the first Friday of each month a varying number of local art galleries, artist spaces/studios, non-profits and hybrid exhibition venues open their doors to the public for a huge progressive art opening celebration. The event is organized by Rochester Contemporary Art Center.

Click here to see a holiday 2020 listing of some Rochester artists' work for sale.

sources to buy art IN THE sIX cOUNTY METRO ROCHESTER AREA - AlphabetICAL oRDER

SOURCES TO BUY ART IN THE SIX COUNTY METRO ROCHESTER AREA - BY CATEGORY

commercial art Galleries & venues that function like commercial art galleries:

There are precious few galleries left in our region that are purely & exclusively top tier, stand-alone commercial art galleries like those you might see in larger cities. Many of the better gallery spaces in our region that strive for higher standards are combined with other business interests or related art interests.

Instead of meeting the strict definition of "commercial gallery" the venues in this category fall along a continuum of excellence. Their formats and practices vary. However, all of the businesses listed below are well organized and professional. They have defined exhibition spaces. The artwork is presented with care. Exhibition schedules are planned in advance. A knowledgeable person is on hand to answer questions and information about the artists is available. Gallery hours will vary widely. Some of these venues are open daily during regular business hours while others are only open during events or by appointment. All these galleries are equipped and ready to help collectors purchase works of art.

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Art Advisors, art Dealers & art Auction Houses:

There are a variety of ways collectors can purchase artwork besides galleries. Art advisors play a very important role for many collectors who want personalized service and works of art that may not be available in the local marketplace. Auction houses and dealers may - at times - handle both fine art as well as non-art items such as antiques and rare books.

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Artist studio/gallerIEs, Artists' spaces & co-ops:

Many artists sell their artwork directly to collectors from their studio. However, this list includes only those artist-run venues that sell work made by artists other than (or in addition to) the host artist(s). Generally, these venues offer dedicated spaces to present the work. Expect a wide range of options, hours, configurations, etc.
Artists' co-ops, collectives, and studios have become very popular public venues for exhibiting and selling art and it's not surprising. By selling from the studio or in a co-op, the artists tend to save on expenses. Sales are almost always appreciated in this setting, but not always top-of-mind for the artists. When it comes down to paying for the work "cash is king." Checks are usually tolerated. Charge & debit cards are increasingly accommodated but not at all universally available in this setting.

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Grassroots & Hybrid Venues:

You will find artwork on exhibit and for sale in salons, stores, restaurants, framers, cafes, offices, etc. Obviously, the exhibition and sale of art is not the primary interest of these businesses, so don't expect too much service or support from the staff.

From an exhibition and sales point of view these venues range from reasonably well organized to completely disorganized. Presentation of the work varies from excellent to poor. There may be a very strong curator at work behind the scenes. On the other hand, the curatorial choices may result from episodic or opportunistic encounters with artists. Artwork may be in and out over a weekend (as in a “pop-up” show) or it may linger on the walls for many weeks or months before rotating out. There may be long periods when nothing is on exhibit. Don’t assume there will be a price list or even the artist’s contact information. It's often catch-as-catch-can. If a venue shows mostly or exclusively smaller works like jewelry or gift shop type objects created by artists and they DON'T host organized/curated exhibitions, then that venue would be listed under the “Less Formal” category even if the shop is highly organized and professionally staffed. Unfortunately, this puts some very high quality retailers in a less obvious category. We apologize. For the purposes of this group we this the best option.

We have arranged this group into two sub-categories: “Well Organized Venues” and “ Less Formal Venues.” Under no circumstances are we attempting to judge the quality of the work exhibited. With a very broad brushstroke we are offering a general idea of what to expect when you consider a visit.

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non-profit Organizations:

The primary mission of these organizations is to serve the public rather than to sell artwork. However, often the artwork on exhibit will be for sale to the public. Expect these venues to be reasonably well organized and professional. Most will have a price list on hand and background information about the artist. You may have to pay an admission fee for access to the gallery/exhibition space. Some organizations have stores that are open to the public without a fee. While Non-Profits do not necessarily cater to art buyers/collectors they are usually equipped to transact a sale.

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Universities & Colleges:

The primary mission of educational institutions is to serve their student population, rather than the general public at large, and not as much to sell artwork. However, each listed institution has a designated gallery exhibition space, and it’s not uncommon for some of the artwork to be offered for sale. Expect these venues to be well organized and professional. If the work is for sale; there should be a price list and background information about the show and the artist/s. These venues do not cater to art buyers/collectors, so don’t be surprised if a gallery employee/volunteer simply puts you in touch with the artist when you ask about buying work from a show. After that you and the artist will work independently complete the sale.

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Online Only:

Important Sources To Buy Art Outside Metro Rochester:

Listing the sources to buy art in the roughly 90 mile radius (15 counties) surrounding the Metro Rochester region is a daunting task. We'll begin with a "highlights" list and work from that point forward. It will be "under construction" for many months and perhaps for years. Still, we're going to give it a try.

Counties in New York State we are including: Allegany, Cattaraugus, Cayuga, Chautauqua, Chemung, Cortland, Erie, Niagara, Onondaga, Oswego, Schuyler, Seneca, Stueben, Tompkins, Wyoming. We have divided these counties up and associated them with resident cities that tend to attract art galleries and arts institutions.

City: buffalo | counties: ERIE, NIAGARA, CHAUTAUQUA, ALLEGANY & CATTARAUGUS

City: sYRACUSE | counties: ONONDAGA, SENECA, OSWEGO & CAYUGA

Art Rage
Web | Facebook | Instagram

City: ITHACA | counties: TOMPKINS, CORTLAND, SCHUYLER, YATES, WYOMING, TIOGA

Cities: CORNING & ELMIRA | counties: STEUBEN & CHEMUNG

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* The information provided on this page is both incomplete and imperfect. Venues open and close all the time. Web addresses change, too. We couldn't possibly list information about every local artist. Listing some artists and not others would be inappropriate.

You should consider the information on this site to be one resource among many. If you have suggestions, please send us a message via the CONNECT page on this site.

The descriptions associated with the various categories is designed to give collectors an idea of what to expect before they venture out for their first visit. This information was created from the experiences of local collectors and is meant only as a general guide. Rochester Art Collectors does does not guarantee the accuracy of the information on this page. Each collector is responsible for their own assessment of these venues. You may have a very different experience when you visit as compared to the description you see posted above. Your input is welcome. If you would like to send us your thoughts about any venue(s), please send us a message via the CONNECT page on this site.