in Art Galleries by admin on 20 Mar 2010
How Art Galleries Work
Art galleries open to make money. Its that simple. While a dealer may love art, have artist friends and give money to art charities, even a wealthy dealer wants a gallery to pay for itself and make money whenever possible. People, artists in particular, often forget that an art gallery is not a benevolent organization.
One must realize when looking at galleries that it is one portion of the economy where there will always be more supply than the demand for artwork. Its competitive for an artist to become represented by a gallery and even when they are signed on, they are in store for a shock. The average commission taken by a gallery is 50% of the sale price. It can even be more. Theres good reason for this and one should look at it as a partnership agreement. The artist produces the product and then hands it over for marketing and sales. The art world is competitive and much relies on the dealers reputation and skills. He essentially has to create a market for a new artist and it is work. Not only that, it takes a staff, it takes advertising, and it takes social connections.
A good gallery is a well-oiled machine in all aspects and it doesnt come cheap. If the artist realizes that a good gallery offers them complete freedom to stay in their studio doing the work they love, then the relationship can be a good one. While a gallery owner may love art, it is also work.
Nothing is guaranteed in the art world unless youre a painting by Jackson Pollock. It is a fickle world comprised of many egos and many factors. In uncertain economic times, an art gallery is completely vulnerable to outside forces and will have to try to flow with the times to stay alive.
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