The Power of Experiencing Art in Person
Over the years, virtual exhibitions have become a major part of how art is shared with the world. Nearly a decade ago, I was experimenting with online 3-D gallery spaces, curious about how technology might expand the reach of my work. These digital shows offered convenience and accessibility, and they certainly had their moment. But after recently opening a new solo exhibition at a Canadian art gallery, I’ve been reminded – very clearly – why live, in-person exhibitions continue to hold an essential place in the art world. The Power of Art in person is palpable.
The Wild Life at Miller Art Gallery – Edmonton – Brandy Saturley
Art Needs Space, Light, and Presence
A painting is not just an image. It’s a physical object with texture, scale, and subtle shifts that can only be understood when you stand in front of it. The thickness of the paint, the edges of the canvas, the way colours respond to natural or gallery lighting, these details disappear when artwork is translated into pixels.
In-person, a piece has a presence that simply can’t be conveyed through a screen. Viewers move around the work. They experience its size. They absorb its atmosphere. These sensory elements are part of the story, and they’re lost in a virtual setting.
#ICONICCANUCK at CARFAC Alberta – Brandy Saturley
A Rare Opportunity for Artists to Witness Their Audience
Creating artwork is an incredibly solitary process. Much of the time, it’s just the artist, the canvas, and the quiet. Live exhibitions offer one of the only opportunities to step outside that solitude and see how people actually respond to the work.
Watching visitors engage with the paintings – seeing which pieces they spend time with, the angles they lean in from, the conversations they start – provides insight that no online platform can offer. It becomes a feedback loop, a source of inspiration, and a reminder of why the work matters.
Newfoundland Impressions – James Baird Gallery – Newfoundland – Brandy Saturley
Power Art in Person: The Human Element That Digital Can’t Replace
Art brings people together. A gallery setting naturally creates dialogue, connection, and shared experience. People who may never otherwise meet find themselves standing side-by-side, interpreting the same piece through their own lens.
In a digital world that moves fast and often feels fragmented, a gallery becomes a slower, more intentional space. It invites presence. It gives the work room to breathe, and gives viewers the opportunity to breathe with it.
Newfoundland Impressions – James Baird Gallery – Newfoundland – Brandy Saturley
Why I Still Believe in Showing Work Live
While virtual exhibitions will always have a place, especially for their accessibility, there is something irreplaceable about presenting art physically. The atmosphere of an opening, the conversations with collectors, the energy in the room, and the authentic, unfiltered reactions from viewers, these are essential parts of my practice.
After experiencing my recent gallery opening, I’m more convinced than ever that live exhibitions aren’t just important; they’re vital. They remind us that art is a dialogue, not just a digital experience. They bring back the human connection that fuels creativity and keeps the work evolving.
In an increasingly digital age, showing art live remains a powerful way to connect, communicate, and celebrate the creative process.
What is an image? Royal College of Art, London UK – Brandy Saturley
