When was the last time you simply spent a few hours looking at and admiring art? It's a relaxing experience to have and one that most people do not have often enough. Art has a way of opening up your emotions and allowing you to feel things that were always there, but may have been hidden by your own logic. If you know what we're talking about, then this blog is for you. It's a blog about art galleries and dealers, and all of the beauty the art industry brings to the world. We hope it opens up something for you.
While you can sell your paintings yourself, you might find it hard to make a living from your art. You'll have to invest a lot of time, and some money, into marketing and selling your pieces.
Some artists prefer to sell their work through a fine art gallery. Here, the gallery displays and promotes your artwork; they then take a commission out of any sales you make. While you might not be sure about giving away some of your income, gallery partnerships have some benefits. What are they?
Reputational Benefits
If you're a new artist, then you won't have made a name for yourself in the art world yet. You need some time to build your reputation and enough of a buzz to make your paintings sell consistently.
If you sell some of your work through a fine art gallery, then your reputation gets an immediate boost. Art buyers trust gallery owners to promote good artists.
So, a buyer might not know who you are, but they are more likely to buy one of your paintings if it hangs in a gallery they know and trust. You tap into the gallery's reputation if they agree to showcase your work.
Buyer Benefits
You might already market your art yourself. For example, you might have a website or showcase your work on social media. However, you might find it hard to find and keep serious art collectors and enthusiasts.
So, you might sell some pieces, but you might not make enough money to make a living if you can't find a regular stream of serious buyers. You have limited access to this market on your own.
If you work in partnership with a gallery, then you tap into their buyer bases. Gallery owners often have regular buyers who buy art they like or art they think will increase in value over the years. If your paintings hang in the gallery, then you get your work in front of this valuable buyer market.
Cost Benefits
While you pay commission on gallery sales, you might still make more money selling your paintings this way. For example, you might sell more pieces in a gallery setting; you might be able to charge more than you can right now.
Plus, you reduce your own marketing costs here. You don't just get free gallery space, you also get free marketing as well. An established gallery actively promotes their artists to their customer bases. They run regular exhibitions and showcase events.
To find out more, contact fine art gallery owners to see if they are interested in representing you.