User talk:Apolloduchamp

Recent edits on artist bios

Hi Apolloduchamp! Welcome to Wikipedia, always glad to have other contemporary art-focused editors.

I just wanted to flag that some of your recent edits to artist biographies are not necessarily useful or correctly cited additions. For most artists, it is not necessary to include information about which gallery currently represents them. First, this information changes often and quickly becomes out of date. Second, the information is generally only useful for people seeking to buy that artist's work, which is not the purpose of Wikipedia; there are certainly many cases where an artist's gallery played or is playing a major role in their career arc and deserves mention, but that's pretty context-specific, not something you can just apply to every artist biography. Third, you've been citing these additions with links to the gallery website for each artist's gallery; sources for information must be notable and reliable, and commercial art galleries are generally not considered a reliable source for information regarding themselves (e.g., which artists that gallery represents).

I would also caution that if you work for a commercial gallery you should stop editing the biographies of artists your gallery represents until you are able to follow the paid editing guidelines. There is much more information on that subject available here.

Please don't take this as an attack on your work to help contribute to Wikipedia, as I genuinely mean it when I say we need more contemporary art folks on here. Thank you and happy editing! 19h00s (talk) 01:54, 7 July 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Thank you for sharing your perspective. I understand your concerns about the reliability and relevance of including information about artist representation in biographies on Wikipedia. From my viewpoint, transparency about gallery affiliations can provide valuable context, especially in cases involving estates of deceased artists or longstanding partnerships with major galleries (such as Barney and Gladstone - over 30 years of collaboration managing the artist’s career). This information helps to illuminate the career trajectories and influences within the contemporary art system, which I believe is crucial for a comprehensive understanding of an artist’s impact.

Regarding sourcing, I agree that reliable and notable sources are essential for maintaining Wikipedia’s standards. While commercial galleries may not always be the most unbiased sources, information from reputable art publications, academic sources, and established art institutions can provide verifiable details about an artist’s career and gallery affiliations. Major art galleries with longstanding histories and global reputations can particularly serve as reliable sources regarding their partnerships with artists, offering insights that contribute to a broader understanding of an artist’s professional journey.

I would like to clarify that I am freelance and do not work for any specific gallery or institution. If there are specific guidelines or policies that govern the inclusion of such information on Wikipedia, I would appreciate any guidance or resources you can share to ensure that contributions align with the platform’s standards. I’m committed to contributing constructively to Wikipedia’s content, particularly in areas related to contemporary art, and welcome further discussion on how best to represent these topics accurately. Apolloduchamp (talk) 05:15, 7 July 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Totally agree, there are many many cases where gallery representation is important for an artist bio. I think the issue here might be where you're placing the information in these articles. Gallery representation generally does not belong in the introduction or in the biography section, unless you're including significant information that is woven throughout the narrative of the biography section. Generally, this information goes in a separate section like "Art market" or "Exhibitions." Including it so early in the article is a) not really in line with Wikipedia biography style and b) makes the edits seem promotional.

There is a lot of information on Wikipedia style for artists and biographies available here and here, and I would always recommend new editors read through the introductory guides for editing on Wikipedia listed here.

Happy editing! 19h00s (talk) 01:46, 8 July 2024 (UTC)[reply]