Ask a Gallery Owner | Should Artists Seek an Agent to Represent Them?

I just lately obtained the following e mail inquiring about artists’ agents:

Pricey Jason,

I have joined a dialogue line on LinkedIn and we are discussing the professionals and drawbacks of hiring artwork agents to stand for our function to galleries, etcetera. It appears to be as although there are quite a few folks out there who are glad to get advantage of having difficulties artists and are asking for up entrance fees with no offering any supporting information re what they will do to industry our function. I have composed a prolonged assertion about what I would expect from an agent Ahead of I would indication up with another person.

In essence, I hope a prepare of motion or a prospectus about the services — considerably like we get from authentic estate agents who we are interviewing for providing our residences. Perfectly, this has led to queries about where by do we come across brokers and how can we display them. My assumed was we may try undertaking a Google research or check with some gallery owners for input.

*And this sales opportunities me to my dilemma of you.* What are your thoughts about artwork agents? Do you, as a gallery operator who is incredibly supportive of artists and very skilled in the business end of the art organization, desire to have an agent current the artist’s work or have the artist him/herself do the original presentation (I know your expectations and guidelines for in search of gallery representation)? What should we (artists) assume from an agent? Do you have any recommendations about exactly where we can locate a checklist of credible brokers? What are your suggestions for retainer costs and fees for company?

M

My reaction:

M,

Thank you for the be aware and the query. I understand why working with a fantastic agent would be interesting to an artist – the plan of possessing someone else get above the company side of things seems just about far too fantastic to be genuine. Regrettably, for most artists it is just that, as well fantastic to be true. This is specially true for artists early in their professions. Very well-established and knowledgeable brokers want to operate with artists who presently have a monitor-history. For an emerging artists it is heading to just take more effort and hard work to locate a very good agent and encourage them to get the job done with you than it would to get out and construct associations with galleries. That staying the scenario, I would advocate an artist devote their endeavours to securing gallery representation.

From a gallery-owner’s point of view, I have surely labored with agents over the several years and it can definitely free an artist up to aim on their inventive initiatives. Reality instructed having said that, I would desire to perform specifically with the artist in most scenarios. I am a lot more most likely to promote an artist’s function perfectly if I have a very good functioning romantic relationship straight with the artist.

If you are heading to function with an agent, you would want to chat to other artists they signify and get a perception of how effective they’ve been in endorsing the artists’ perform and how proactive they are. I would be reluctant to spend also substantially in up-entrance service fees – as a gallery I really don’t make any cash from an artist until I am offering their do the job – it should not be any unique for an agent. Pay out dependent on performance.

Share Your Expertise

Have you worked or do you presently do the job with an agent? What has your working experience been and what would you advise when an artist is trying to get agent illustration? Share your feelings in the responses down below.