Does An Artist Need A Gallery?
Hang out with any amateur, emerging, or mid-career artist long enough, and someone will chime in and say that it’s better to do everything yourself. Really? Would you rather be doing anything else instead of standing at your easel painting? I do understand the desire to cut costs, but what makes you think that you can become an expert at everything overnight?
Why Not Just Represent Yourself?
You’ll hear non-successful artists tell you that they don’t need galleries, that they don’t need agents, and they certainly don’t want anyone stealing 50% or more from selling their paintings. They will have all kinds of excuses for why they refuse to work with galleries or agents. However, look at the anger and the negativity oozing out of every pore of their being as they try to convince you they are right. Most likely, they aren’t in a gallery because galleries and agents find it too difficult to work with them, not the other way around!
Gallery Representation is Important For Your Career
Being represented by a reputable, privately owned gallery has some significant benefits that our anti-gallery friends don’t know anything about. One of the primary benefits is having a knowledgeable and respected person vouch for you and your art. This gives you much more credibility than on just your word alone. They also have clients who respect their judgement and will only buy if this person tells them that they should buy from you. The kind of client that buys through a gallery will also accept to pay more for your work, and you will probably make more on a sale, even with a percentage fee, than you would on your own. In some cases, the gallery will take care of your upfront cost for framing, freeing up more of your money so you can pay your rent and buy materials and food.
My Own Gallery Experience
Over several years of gallery representation, I have met people that I would never have had the opportunity to meet on my own. Through my gallery owners, I’ve met Ambassadors, fashion models, journalists, and politicians. Wealthy people do not buy art just anywhere. They tend to rely on other people to find them what they are looking for. Think of private art galleries as another kind of personal shopper.
Who Should You Believe?
So before you buy into some loudmouth’s idea that you should do everything on your own, take a deep breath. Who is the loudmouth giving you advice anyway? Remember that misery loves company, especially among artists. Ironically, once one of the herd moves forward a little in their career, the herd culls a successful friend. Nobody seems to ask why so many very well-known artists have galleries and are seeking out galleries to represent them. These artists have unlimited funds and a name but still want a gallery and representation. There are, of course, a couple of rare exceptions that “loudmouth” will be sure to point out to you, but these artists are scarce!
Why I’m Not In A Gallery Right Now
Two of my long-term galleries have closed their doors, so I am between galleries, so to speak. Over the past few years I’ve also been a primary caregiver for someone with cancer. In the interim I have been trying my best to keep the wolves from the door. Now that the worse is over, if any gallery owners are reading this, I am willing to work with you.
