Paying Gallery Commissions

Quit griping about paying gallery commissions. 

I often hear artists say, “Why should I give a gallery 50% of my profit?” The answer is simple: galleries do the work most of us can’t or don’t want to do. Creating art and marketing art require two entirely different skill sets, and galleries excel at the business side—selling, promoting, pricing, and connecting with collectors.

If you don’t like the commission split, you don’t need gallery representation. But remember: keeping 100% of the sale means doing 100% of the work. Marketing, promotion, logistics, negotiation, and audience-building all fall on you. And while the internet has made marketing easier, it’s still incredibly time-consuming.

What galleries provide:

• Professional negotiation without emotional attachment

• Market knowledge and pricing expertise

• Access to wider audiences and multiple markets

• Direct introductions to collectors

• Increased credibility and visibility

• More consistent sales opportunities

• Daily selling, promoting, and marketing

• Logistics, shipping, and customer service

• Time for you to focus on creating more art

Galleries also have significant overhead—rent, staff, utilities, insurance, marketing, and more. Think of your art like any other product: the maker creates it; the retailer sells it.

Instead of thinking you’re “giving away 50%,” price your work so the wholesale value supports your costs and profit. A commission is part of every sale—if you sell the work, you’re earning that commission. If the gallery sells it, they are earning it. There is always a cost to selling.

A solid gallery partnership is a business relationship built on mutual benefit. Represented artists often criticize the commission split, but usually those complaints come from artists not represented or those with poor gallery experiences. The key is clarity: make sure your gallery is truly earning their commission.

If your gallery isn’t communicating, marketing, paying promptly, or actively selling, the relationship may not be worth it. But if they are promoting you well and bringing in sales, the commission is worth every penny. Never undermine that relationship by selling work behind their back.

The gallery world is evolving—some galleries charge for wall space, some rely on call-for-entry fees, and some require artists to handle their own marketing. In those models, the traditional split may not make sense.

Before signing with any gallery, understand the terms:

• Require payment within 30 days

• Limit discounts unless approved in advance

• Allow work swaps after a set period

• Ensure your work hangs regularly, not stored in a back room

• Set expectations for marketing and promotion

We all want to earn more from our work, but complaining about percentages won’t help. Find a gallery you trust, honor the relationship, and remember: galleries only earn money when you do. Work together, create great art, and build success as a team.

There are lots of horror stories about working with galleries, I want to know your positive stories. Post them below.

Be well….be creative,

Clare

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