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Are Commercial Galleries Essential to Artists' Careers?

Ian Davenport at Paul Kasmin gallery, Photo by by j-No. Courtesy Creative Commons

For the majority of the last 100 years artists have sold work through commercial galleries. This is the most desirable way for artists to make a living. What should you expect or not expect from gallery representation? These are important questions to ask yourself. Your answers together with this article will give you reasonable expectations for gallery representation.

Commercial galleries usually sell artists’ works on commission. The typical commission is usually 50% of the sale of the work. This is determined by the contract. There are several contracts that galleries enter into with artists. A spectrum of contracts is outlined here:

Consignment Contract

A consignment contract is written when an artist loans a specific number of works of art to the gallery for the gallery to sell for a specific amount of time. An itemized list is made, the terms of sale are set forth as well as a time for them to be returned to you if they are not sold. Also a deadline of payment is agreed upon. Typically galleries pay in full within 60 days after the sale. When included in a group show the gallery may use this type of contract.

Representation Contract

At the other end of the spectrum of artist and gallery relationships is one that gives the gallery the right to sell any of the work that you produce. The gallery or art dealer becomes your exclusive representative and they will represent you as one of their artists. You will have solo shows with this gallery, these shows may or may not be stipulated in the contract. These stipulations may seem restrictive to an artist, but they can also help the artist’s financial security, if the work sells well. This example of a gallery relationship is the most closed agreement of all gallery contracts.