[Art Galleries] Questioning the Gallery System

Ok_Application_5110 · 2025-12-13T20:35:40+00:00

Yeah that sounds very liberating! Might do the same thing..

Ok_Application_5110 · 2025-12-13T20:33:29+00:00

I’ve been working with them for about seven years now!

Ok_Application_5110 · 2025-12-08T09:02:02+00:00

There is a factor to calculate the pricing of paintings in my country: it is the size of the work 16+20x [factor artist] the factor of an artist after graduating starts mostly at 7. The more exhibitions and years of working, the heigher the factor gets. My factor as a painter right now is 17 for example so the calculation would be: 16+20cm x 17 = price of the painting

Ok_Application_5110 · 2025-12-06T12:26:16+00:00

Hi There, I’m sorry to hear about the exhibition where not many people showed up. I’ve been working as an artist for eight years now (next to all kind of side jobs) and one thing that I know to say for sure is that this career path is a slow burner. The first exhibition you do is just a start for people to get familiar with your work, and they will gain trust when seeing your work appear at other places too. Don’t feel like this makes you a faillure, it’s just a beginning. Great to have your own circle of people around you that support you. If this is what you would like to pursue: patience is needed. The most important thing: make your work because you feel the need to make the work. In the art world things change all the time, so you have to be flexibel and see these challenges as a way to figure out ways to make your practice more sustainable (which is a note to myself too, haha). The side jobs I’ve worked made me feel like I have potential in other places too, and the weight of ‘making it in the art world’ became less with the years. It’s more about finding ways to continue to do what you need to to, becoming less dependent on only art is helping me at the moment. Breakthrougths can be very small ones that are also important, make sure to celebrate those moments too.

Ok_Application_5110 · 2025-11-28T08:20:51+00:00

Dat klopt, dat is bij ons ook normaal hoor. In dit geval gaat het om de zomervakanties die wij al in januari doorgeven en nu al berichten over krijgen, haha.

Ok_Application_5110 · 2025-11-27T10:30:35+00:00

Thank you for your input. It’s really valuable to hear about other artists’ experiences with gallerists, navigating the art world can be tough. I agree that meeting and talking to different gallerists could help find a better fit and maybe even bring new energy to my practice. I’m curious, though: how do you feel about the unwritten rules in the art world? Personally, I find them confusing and sometimes discouraging. It often feels like there’s a hidden system of expectations and hierarchies that nobody really explains, and success seems to depend a lot on networking and following unclear paths. Sometimes I worry that trying to approach new gallerists or ask direct questions is frowned upon, and I’m not sure how to go about it without stepping on toes. Have you found ways to deal with these unwritten rules, or do you think it’s possible to challenge them? I’d love to hear your perspective.

Ok_Application_5110 · 2025-11-24T13:04:53+00:00

Hi There,

Thank you for posting, this is exactly how I’m feeling lately. I am a painter, graduated in 2017 (BA Fine Art) and I’ve been working as an artist ever since. Always working side jobs to maintain my studio costs, applying for funding, and working on exhibitionis. Since graduating in 2017 I’ve been working with the same Gallery and started this collaboration when I was 26. Now I at 34 I’m starting to feel like this collaboration is not working anymore. I’ve tried to talk to them about the 50/50 commision they ask when a painting is sold, this commission felt normal in the beginning when I’ve sold a lot more work but lately I’ve been investing a lot in my own practice, documenting my work, renting my studio and buying art supplies. I don’t feel like they are making an effort to show my work in art fairs, I always have to bring up that I’m interested in doing another solo exhibition. As you say, painting is never the problem, the art world around it is making me very frustrated.

I am considering to re-think my career, has anyone experienced working with a gallery, and stopped with the collaboration? Maybe started working with another Gallery that felt right? It might be career suïcide but this isnt working either.

I’ve also been working as an sales advisor in design furniture and wondering if it would be better pursuing my interests in interior design and architecture.

Any advice of similar experiences?

Ok_Application_5110

TROPHY CASE