ARTWORLD RELATIONSHIPS

Artist + Galleries

The Artist & Dealer Marriage

Contracts:

• How often & in what context will the artist’s work be displayed?

• What sales commission will be paid to the dealer?

• How soon will the artist be paid following a sale?

• Who pays for framing, shipping, advertising, insurance and catalogs?

• Is the dealer an exclusive agent for the artist

• How long will this agreement be in effect?

Additional Agreements

• Many further agreements can exist between an artist & a gallery and can vary between the previous examples.

• Example: Nonprofit gallery contract

Types of Contracts

• Consignment Contract

• Representation Contract

• Additional Agreements

Consignment Contract

• A Consignment contract is written which a artist loans a specific number of work of art to the gallery for the gallery to sell for a period of time.

• An itemized list is made, the terms of sale are set forth as well as a time for the works to be returned in not sold.

Representation Contract

• The gallery or art dealer becomes the exclusive agent, and they will represent you as one of their artists.

• The artist will have solo shows with this gallery, although these shows may or may not be stipulated in the contract.

Why do Galleries get 50% of the sale?

The Logic Behind the 50/50 Split

The short answer is because it costs that much to promote the artist’s work…Artist are investment for the commercial gallery

How do galleries find artist?

• Slide registries

• Art festivals/ fairs

• Open studios

• Publications

• Group Exhibitions

• Solicitation of Materials

• send out announcements

• write a press release and distribute it to the press

• pay for the opening reception

• pay for the shipping of the artwork

• handle requests from press and others for images

• website