Gallery information (Santa Fe, Taos: sales, consignment, homes)
Santa FeSanta Fe County
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I posted in the Fine Art forum but maybe I could get more of an idea here. Are prices for original art works firm in the galleries Santa Fe or Taos? I know that depending on the name of the artist the price would demand more. Would this be even possible in the Fenn Gallery or those on Canyon Rd? I am not trying to belittle an artist's work, just trying to learn. Thank you.
I haven't heard of anyone dickering on the prices for fine art in Santa Fe. If the work of certain artists is valued more, that doesn't mean that the prices are not firm. The artist's reputation is one factor that goes into determining the value/price of the piece.
There are appraisers in town, who can tell you if the price you paid is fair. You'd have to pay them for their service.
edit; I take that back, a little. Sometimes there are markdowns, like when a gallery might be having a promotional sale. Or, if you buy two works of art from the same gallery, you could ask if you could get a discount, for the double purchase. That's not unheard of. If you're considering an expensive piece, conceivably you could discreetly ask if X is the " best price they can offer". That's the limit of your options, AFAIK.
I was browsing on Canyon Road a while back and looking at a large abstract painting--maybe too large for most homes. The gallery dropped the price by a third in a fairly short discussion and might have come down more -- it was large, appealed to a limited audience, and was taking up gallery space. That might have been an exception to the normal rule. The stuff I would buy probably won't come down in price.
I was browsing on Canyon Road a while back and looking at a large abstract painting--maybe too large for most homes. The gallery dropped the price by a third in a fairly short discussion and might have come down more -- it was large, appealed to a limited audience, and was taking up gallery space. That might have been an exception to the normal rule. The stuff I would buy probably won't come down in price.
Good point. Depending on the gallery, they may lower the price for a seriously-interested customer, if they haven't made a sale in a long time, it's a high-end painting rather than a $200 print, and they have bills to pay. There are many variables.
I was told by one Santa Fe gallery owner that any gallery will drop the price 10% to 20%. I don't know if that is true. I did buy from her and she gave a 20% discount, although she had to contact the artist to get approval first.
I was told by one Santa Fe gallery owner that any gallery will drop the price 10% to 20%. I don't know if that is true. I did by from her and she gave a 20% discount, although she had to contact the artist to get approval first.
This is pretty much how the gallery business works. The poor artist usually settles for 40 percent of the sales price, if that much. So the gallery has a lot of leeway in cutting its commission. It's important to remember that many (if not most) galleries sell on consignment - meaning the artist gets nothing if the work doesn't sell.
This is pretty much how the gallery business works. The poor artist usually settles for 40 percent of the sales price, if that much. So the gallery has a lot of leeway in cutting its commission. It's important to remember that many (if not most) galleries sell on consignment - meaning the artist gets nothing if the work doesn't sell.
Not only that, but the artist has to spend a lot of money on framing, just to get his/her work exhibited.
When I had work in a Canyon Rd. Gallery I received 50% of my set retail price. The galleries contract stipulated that The artist would allow them to offer up to a 15% discount, but the gallery would absorb that discount, not the artist.
Thanks to all that responded. I am NOT trying to undervalue anyone's work. Just trying to learn. As a professional musician, I understand the artist being paid adequately for their work.
When I had work in a Canyon Rd. Gallery I received 50% of my set retail price. The galleries contract stipulated that The artist would allow them to offer up to a 15% discount, but the gallery would absorb that discount, not the artist.
I've known so many artists who would be considered "amateurs" who place their work with a gallery with NO written contract to protect them from fraud. Even some prestigious galleries have been caught up in fraudulent schemes at times. Galleries have even gone out of business with NO forewarning, taking all of the artist's works with them.
While some galleries still take a 40% commission on sales, the majority of them insist on 50%. Richard Schmid has shared with me that years ago, galleries took 20%-30%. The commission rates artists are paying today were unheard of 40 years ago. Some galleries have now gone beyond the 50% mark - having raised it to 60%. Where will it end?
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