Comments on: SHOULD YOU GIVE THE GALLERY SYSTEM THE HEAVE-HO?

By: Art, Business and Happiness – Helpful Links | Art Marketing - Maria Brophy

Mon, 09 Aug 2010 22:54:02 +0000

[...] SHOULD YOU GIVE THE GALLERY SYSTEM THE HEAVE-HO? My article telling artists to “Stop stressing and realize that having your art in a gallery isn’t that important. It’s not going to make or break your career goals.” [...]

By: Maria Brophy

Maria Brophy — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 16:26:11 +0000

Thanks, Tanya. I’m so glad you found my blog!

Here’s a great article on the topic of artists and galleries working together on Lori McNee’s site: http://www.artprintissues.com/2010/05/visual-artists-challenge-should-i-work-with-galleries-go-direct-to-collectors-or-both.html

It’s more food for thought on this subject!

By: Tanya

Tanya — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 14:27:04 +0000

Once again, a VERY helpful article. This is perfect timing that I found your blog- i have been lost on here for hours!! thank you so much for sharing your experiece and expertise!

By: Maria Brophy

Maria Brophy — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 20:23:55 +0000

Mako, I would say NEVER pay someone money up front to market your work unless they are guaranteeing a certain return, as well as a laundry list of what work they will do each week to market you. It would be cheaper to hire a personal assistant – but I think most artists are capable of marketing themselves just fine.

By: Mako Fufu

Mako Fufu — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 19:07:48 +0000

Wow! I had no idea about all of this.
Well, this year I´ve got accepted on a gallery on NY. They asked me money upfront for a representation, plus a commission for the sales. I was ok with the commission, but I hadn´t the money to pay upfront. And it wasn´t cheap!
It´s really interesting to get to know about all this info. In fact, I find all your articles really interesting. I´m glad I´ve stumbled upon your page I´m reading it all!!.
Thanks a lot for making this!
I´ve already subscribed to your newsletter!

Hugs,
Mako

By: Lori Woodward

Lori Woodward — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 17:38:08 +0000

Maria,

Couldn’t have said any of this better myself. You and I think an awful lot alike. I too often get asked how does an artist get gallery representation.

Funny thing is, not one artist I know got into a gallery with a submission – it was always by recommendation from another artist or collector. One popular gallery recently admitted to one of its artists that they have submissions they’ve never looked at that have been sitting around for 5 years. They just don’t make artist submissions a priority – and why should they when they choose via competitions and magazine articles.

I’m with you, I think artists can do much better on their own these days. Of course that means investing in our own art marketing, but even marketing can be done rather inexpensively these days with the Internet.

You’ve got the guts to say things as they are… for most artists. Very few make a living through galleries… many more make a living without them or with a combination of venues.

No gallery should tell us how to run out business. We pay them a commission to be our sales people. We don’t work for them, they work for us. I’m tired of being told what and how to paint. Ooh… don’t get me started …. lol.
Lori

By: anita

anita — Sun, 11 Apr 2010 13:02:06 +0000

when querying a price recently, i was informed that what ever the frame costs add the same for the artist and the same for the gallery, ie a third. i know the gallery and framer have overheads, but how wrong is that.
great information, great site.

By: Maria

Maria — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 02:17:53 +0000

Kelley, thanks for commenting and for your information. It’s so helpful to find out what other artists experiences are. I think 50% can be high, particularly if the artist is paying for the framing. If the gallery pays for it, it’s reasonable. But there are just so many variables to consider….

By: Kelley

Kelley — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 15:40:47 +0000

Replying to my own comment. I said 50% was the norm at most galleries, and unfortunately it is–at least at the very high end galleries where that artist my husband worked for sold her work. The two galleries I sell at are closer to the 35% mark.

By: Kelley

Kelley — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 15:33:54 +0000

I really enjoyed reading this post. I do know some artists who sell solely through the gallery system do very well, because my husband worked full time for a very prolific and enormously successful artist until her death almost two years ago. But because of that experience, I also know how badly some galleries mistreat artists. I know a couple of great gallery owners, but I’ve heard horror stories about others. And yes, 50% commission is the norm at most galleries. I currently have some of my jewelry in 2 shops and 2 galleries, and I also sell artwork and jewelry online and at shows and home parties. I much prefer having more control and getting more of the profits from my sales. I’m considering pulling my work out of the galleries and focusing more on the lower commission shops and selling more of my work myself directly to customers.