Most fine art shows fit into two categories: commercial and non-commercial. Commercial shows have all or most of their items for sale, usually at a negotiable price. Non-commercial shows, such as museums, do not sell art and sometimes charge visitors an entrance fee to cover the cost of staffing and maintenance. Within these categories are numerous kinds of fine art shows, including traveling shows and shows that focus on a specific type of art, like photography or folk.
Fine art shows that are commercial typically have some or all of the works for sale. These paintings or sculptures might have price tags on them, or potential customers might be expected to offer what they feel the item is worth. It varies depending on the culture, but a lot of fine art shows also expect potential customers to haggle on price. For example, it is sometimes ordinary for an art collector to offer at least 10 percent below the tagged price.
Another one of the different types of fine art shows is non-commercial, meaning nothing is for sale. Fine art shows of this type take place within a museum or other non-profit entity that displays art. The entity that is hosting a non-commercial art show usually has permanent art displays but puts on shows to display art that it does not normally host. Art that is being displayed in a non-commercial art show typically comes from other museums or art owners. This type of art show, while non-commercial, does still often require admission payments from those attending in order to financially support the endeavor.
Traveling fine art shows can be either commercial or non-commercial, though they are usually non-commercial. They travel across different regions of one country or across several countries. One fine art show can be in many places, rarely stopping to be together at same the place. Some of these shows are very open to accepting works of art by relatively unknown artists. This can be a head start for new artists, who usually cannot get their work displayed in places like museums and well-established commercial art businesses.
Fine art shows often will revolve around a particular type or theme of art. For instance, an art show might feature the works of a particular artist. Other times the art show may revolve around a type of art, like sculpting, wax figures, or photography. Ethnic and ancient pieces of artwork are other types of art that some shows primarily feature.