Liking sculptor's first piece in gallery (5)
I believe the answer is:
taste
'liking' is the definition.
(taste is a kind of liking)
'sculptor's first piece in gallery' is the wordplay.
'first piece' indicates taking the first letters.
'in' is an insertion indicator.
'gallery' becomes 'tate' (I've seen this before).
The first letter of 'sculptors' is 's'.
's' put inside 'tate' is 'TASTE'.
(Other definitions for taste that I've seen before include "Appreciation, discernment" , "Fine discernment" , "Flavour; discernment" , "Take mouthful" , "Relish or discrimination" .)