An Article by D.M. (695 words, 4 min. read)
Gallerists and art dealers love to play the role of fairy godmothers, but instead of granting wishes, they have mastered the art of turning your dreams into nightmares. With commission rates between 40% and 60%, it is like they are running a “How to Take Half Your Earnings” seminar. You do the creating, they do the taking, and you’re left praying you can afford your studio’s electricity bill.
But Wait…
But wait, it gets juicier. These so-called gatekeepers of creativity always promise exposure, oh but wait! It is usually just for their favorites. If you are not in their inner circle of golden darlings or the latest trendy newcomer, your promotion is about as visible as your diminishing bank balance. They are more than happy to take a beautiful cut of your sales, but actually market your work? Ha! They’ve got far more important things to do, like shopping for designer handbags and pretending they’re too busy to care.
And the possessiveness? Oh, it is real. These gallerists want exclusivity like a jealous partner. You cannot exhibit or sell your work anywhere else without their approval. And heaven forbid you take matters into your own hands! if you sell a piece on your own (to, you know, pay rent or eat), they will suddenly show up demanding a cut, as if they had any role in the sale. In their world, just existing near your art counts as their effort, and they will act like you have violated some sacred art-world code, punishing you for daring to survive.
Want them to actually promote your work? Good luck. They will talk you up as the “next big thing,” but your art is more likely to end up forgotten in the back room like last year’s holiday decorations. Or worse, shoved into a storage unit, gathering dust until some interested customer asks about it, and regrets he did for waiting hours before the art piece was found.
But here is the best part: when collectors and clients show up, the gallerists pull out all the stops. Decked out in their most expensive fashion brands, they suddenly transform into nurturing, protective guardians of the arts. Meanwhile, your artwork is sitting in storage, and you are still waiting to get paid. In public, they put on a grand show of concern for you, but behind the scenes? The real magic trick is how fast your artwork and payments disappear.
And speaking of payments, brace yourself for a rollercoaster. First, you wait. Then you wait some more. Finally, after several increasingly desperate emails and calls (which go mysteriously unanswered), you might, might, get paid. But not before they toss in a condescending eye-roll and some creative excuse about how hard it was to sell your “difficult” art.
Pricing
The “pièce de résistance” of their whole act is the pricing. They will inflate the price of your work so high that even the most dedicated collector will need a parachute just to make a purchase. Sure, it gives your art a fancy air of exclusivity, but it also makes it nearly impossible to find buyers. It’s like trying to sell ice cream at gold plated price! Sounds impressive, but good luck making a sale.
And just when you think it could not get worse, they hide the names of your buyers like they are guarding the recipe to some secret elixir. Want to know who bought your work? Not happening. They keep you in the dark, ensuring you never get too close to building relationships with your collectors. They have locked you outside the vault of your own career, leaving you to guess who owns your art while they maintain control.
In the end, while gallerists and their narcissistic art dealer friends may seem like knights in shining armor, the reality is far less glamorous. They will pocket your earnings, misplace your work (maybe at an airport somewhere after an exhibition you were never supposed to be), and inflate prices, all while putting on a show of concern.
Welcome to the art world’s biggest magic trick! Abracadabra! Your career just vanished!
