Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
private view
noun
EXAMPLES FROM CORPUS
▪ At the private view of that year's Royal Academy Summer Exhibition she met the architect and put the proposition to him.
▪ It was as a mere friend that he went to the private view of Vanessa's second exhibition and met Rain Morgan.
▪ On the other hand, she suspected that Fowler-Thrown would be delighted to have a private view of Newley's collection.
▪ The private view of the inaugural exhibition in the new Arts Centre provided the first event of their calendar for 1992.
Wikipedia
Private view
A private view is a special viewing of an art exhibition by invitation only, normal at the start of a public exhibition. Typically wine and light refreshments are served on the form of a reception. If the artworks are by a living artist, it is normal for them to attend the private view.
An opening of an art exhibition which is open to the public, is known as a vernissage.