I come to you again for some advice…I have been contacted recently by an art gallery in New York (in Tribeca to be precise) interested in showing some of my work. Yes, very exiting news. Now comes the BUT. They’re asking me for a fee to balance off the (financial) risk of showing the works of unknown artists. I’ve googled the art gallery, and it seems to be a real and established gallery. But as I’ve got no experience in exhibiting work in an art gallery, I can’t really tell whether it is common practice to ask the artists for a fee/contribution or just a plain scam.
Before I can make any decision, I would like to hear from you if you have any advice and experience in this matter.
Thank you for your help
Sharon Hammond, 2 months ago
If they think it’s risky then they shouldn’t be asking an unknown artist to exhibit. Just my opinion
Mark German, 2 months ago
Go and visit the gallery. Talk to the curator. Get a feel for what is there, and the people running it. Then consider everything else, like money :)
CateTownsend, 2 months ago
Well Malen I think that your work is outstanding. I’m really not sure of the practice of asking for a fee from the exhibiting artist. I think that you should go check this gallery out and maybe some others and ask there opinion and if they charge a fee. Good luck
ltruskett, 2 months ago
I can understand any gallery asking for you exhibit, because your body of work is outstanding. I would go to the gallery and as Mark suggested talk to the curator and get a feel for the place…... good luck and well deserved.
Malen, 2 months ago
Thank you Sharon, Mark, Cate and Linda
You’re right, the best thing is to go and talk to them, visit the gallery and I would love to do that, but I live in France. I see what can be done from here. For sure, first thing is to talk to them
CATNIPMEOW, 2 months ago
They should be so honored that you would even consider it and totally wave that fee….......
just my opinion :)
funkyporchini, 2 months ago
It sounds exciting ! but as they contacted YOU, i think it is most unusual to have to pay to exhibit… ive never heard of this ..think of it this way, if its a small relatively unknown gallery then its probably not worth the risk of sending off all your work, and if its a large well-established gallery they wouldn’t be asking for a fee..iknow ther are plenty of new-yorkers here on RB, I think you should BM a couple to see if this is common practise…
Good Luck…. Loren..
Winslow357, 2 months ago
Jo forwarded this to me, give me about 6 hours and I will have your answer Malen.
Nando Machado, 2 months ago
Hmm… Rather than “shoulds and shouldn’ts”, I’d contact other galleries, maybe even where you are in France, to get informed about the Fee practice and to enquire about the gallery that contacted you, in case it’s not famous.
ElYPares, 2 months ago
I’M NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE WAY ART GALLERY’S OPERATE BUT I THINK THAT IF THEY WANT YOU TO DISPLAY YOUR WORK THEY SHOULD BE ACCOMIDATING YOU IN EVERYWAY. YOUR WORK IS FANTASTIC. YOU MIGHT WANT GOOGLE ART GALLERY’S IN NEW YORK. CONTACT SOME AND SEE WHAT IF THEY ASK FOR A FEE TO DISPLAY WORKS. YOU SHOULD ALSO PROMOTE YOURSELF AND SEE IF ANY WELL KNOWN ART GALLERY WOULD BE INTERESTED IN SHOWING YOUR WORK. GOOD LUCK AND GOD BLESS!!!
Caroline Telfer, 2 months ago
Hi Malen,
I used to run an art gallery and I would NEVER ask for an artist to pay a fee. That is what commissions are for – you should expect at least 33% of the price of your work to go towards the gallery commission – but no way should you pay an up front fee for to a gallery.
Of course it is different if you run your own exhibition and hire a gallery space. Then you could pay a fee for the hire of the gallery, which includes the gallery’s good name and some promotion, but then you would be organising it yourself, not approached by a gallery.
Now might be a good time for you to send out some mails to galleries and see if you can get some legitimate representation…
Maybe even start small and have an exhibition at a local or regional gallery close to where you live.
Good luck!
Caroline.
Malen, 2 months ago
Thank you so much for your advice and help…your response has been wonderful and proof of what a great community RedBubble is. My special thanks to Charles, who’s been investigating about the gallery … as expected it doesn’t seem to be an “honest” offer and certainly not common practice. So I guess I’ll probably pass on that one :)
macmichael, 2 months ago
Hi Malen,
first thing I would do is call the gallery. Ask them about the mail. I would not be surprised if they had no idea what you are talking about…...
Alice Dunn, 2 months ago
Hi Malen,
Your work is outstanding. You certainly have plenty of really great work, you could put together a show IF YOU WANT TO. If you want, find a gallery you want to exhibit with or start by putting your work in group shows and/or comps to get a feel for how things run. Once you get a feel for the market and once you are comfortable consider a solo show.
shawhouse, 2 months ago
Malen – this is like a new actor hooking up with an agent or manager. Never pay them. It’s bullshit and shameless, scam city. Especially egregious in your case because galleries should, and if there’s any justice, will be fighting over your work…... on the other hand, what’s the name of the gallery? Will they take a postdated check?