Dealing With Dealers and Art Galleries

Whether you’re just flirting with the idea of being in a gallery or have been offered a contract, you want to be prepared with the questions to ask before you join, improve your relationships with them, understand what vanity galleries are, and more. Dealing with dealers and art galleries is serious business and you want to be sure you safeguard your precious artwork and career.

This article includes brief excerpts from longer articles on these important subjects so you can read some now and bookmark this page and return again at your leisure to read more.

Get It In Writing!

When a gallery or agent offers you an exhibition or representation, they may tell you verbally what they plan to do for you. It sounds wonderful and you may be ready to take the plunge. Before you jump in head first and deliver your artwork, take time to discuss the details of this relationship. Furthermore, if you expect to have a fruitful relationship with your gallery or agent you will want to have a signed agreement. This is an essential tool in doing business as a professional artist. This article offers advice about your relationships with art galleries and agents and the written agreement.  Read more.

Ask The Right Questions!

Exhibiting in a gallery, whether they charge an entry fee or not, requires an investment on your part. So, before you ask any questions do some research, either in person or online. In this article I list 22 major questions you should ask and receive answers to your satisfaction before you take the relationship further.  You want to know such facts as: Who determines the price of your work? When will you be notified of sales? How soon do you get paid after the sale? Will the dealer release names and addresses to you of those who buy your work? Read more.

Understand How Vanity Galleries Operate

I think it is important for artists to be aware of how vanity galleries operate. They offer a “pay to play” game in which many artists sadly lose money, self-respect, time and dignity. Sadly, in recent years I’ve noticed a huge increase in vanity galleries. To believe an exhibition in any gallery in a major city at any cost will garner the attention of serious curators and collectors is naive at best. Although the galleries may appear to have credibility to outsiders, vanity galleries are viewed dimly by knowledgeable art professionals. Read more.

Approach New York Art Galleries the Right Way

Most artists from around the world want to be exhibited in New York Art Galleries. However, many of them are confused about how they operate. This article demystifies the New York Art Gallery system and helps artists navigate this fascinating art business. First and foremost, NYC galleries are divided into different categories: privately-owned, commercial galleries; nonprofit alternative venues; artist-run galleries (also known as cooperative galleries); and vanity galleries. They each have their own criteria for how they select artists. Read more.