I often see people condemn certain types of work they dislike with "That's not art!" and whinge about how arrogant someone must be to call the work in question, art. Completely missing the point that it's far more arrogant to think you can tell people what is and isn't art, like you've seen all the artwork in the world and made a clear and informed division between art and not-art that all the uninformed plebs should adhere to.

I'm not going to argue what is and isn't art right now.

I just want to tell you guys that, anytime you see something you think is too weird to be art? I've seen weirder. I've been to museums with classical and modern art, to galleries big and small and I've seen weirder. I see the weird work carefully framed, secured with cameras and guards, displayed with proper lighting and information placards. They are insured and priced and when asked, tour guides and gallery owners will tell you all about the work without a hint of irony.
One of my favorite memories of art school was going to exhibition where artists and galleries had hung so much work up for display and we could just wander through looking at a huge variation of art. At one point I turned a corner and found myself face-to-face with a plate of dicks. Or rather a coloured pencil drawing thereof; a plate of uncircumcised dicks, being sprinkled with salt on one side and on the other, sprouting wings and flying away. It was framed and titled and hung and priced and sold.

And I stood there looking at it, with my notions that furries were weird, realizing it's actually everyone who is really fucking weird, and that this is a wonderful thing. I stood there and thought to myself "I fucking love my job!"

So if you think furries are the weirdest people around, that furry art is the weirdest art around and that it has no real value because it is weird and doesn't have a place in society? Please go to a gallery.
I know that not everyone can afford going to a museum, and museums are sometimes a little sanitized. Galleries are selective about whose work and what work they will show, but it's often less strictly curated than a museum. You can broaden your horizons for free! :D

How to visit a gallery in a non-dickish way:

• Locate gallery which has business hours during which you can just walk in, rather than one that needs an appointment. You're probably not going to buy anything (related note, please look at the prices of work in a gallery and then never complain about fandom rates again :D) so you don't want to make extra work for the gallery owner.
• It's probably going to be quiet, the person working there will ask you if they can help you. Politely ask "I'd just like to look around please?", most gallery people are okay with this.
• Galleries won't have a dress code, but "business casual" stands out the least. Don't bring large bags or be prepared to leave them with the gallery personnel.
• No large groups of people, not all galleries can accommodate large groups. There's a greater risk of bumping into things or knocking things over when in a large group. Plus people are more likely to raise their voice; ideally your max volume should be "quiet discussion in public library".
• It should go without saying; don't touch anything. And I do mean anything. Something might not look like art to you, but it still can be. For example a chair sitting in a corner, double check before you sit down! Also, no food or drink. Unless it's an opening, and even then you're expected to keep drinks and snacks away from the artwork. You break it, you buy it.
• Speaking of openings, if you go to an opening there'll be free snacks and drinks. Plus there will probably be more people if you want to disappear in a crowd. The artist might also be there if you have questions. But there will probably also be a photographer and you might end up on a facebook page somewhere (which is why I barely even go to my own openings, ugh).

What not to do:

• Don't take pictures of the work. If you want to know more about a certain artist, write down their name. The gallery owner might have a flyer or booklet and some artists have books out with a selection of their work. It's an affordable way to own some of the artist's work.
• Don't speak badly of the work; either the subject, the style or the price. It's tacky as all hell. And some gallery owners also display their own work! If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all. If you have to say something that's not nice, wait until after you leave.

Don't be afraid to visit a gallery because you can't afford to buy anything or think you're too young or not posh enough. Most gallery owners do what they do because they love art and by extension, people who love art. If you're quiet and polite, most gallery owners will be quite happy to receive you, or even give you a tour. It's a pretty good way to spend a free afternoon with friends while on a budget.