Do artists need gallery representation?

Art galleries can be fantastic partners in buildings artists' careers. However a traditional art gallery is not an artist's only path to success, especially today.

In her article "What Should Artists Do If They Want Gallery Representation?" for Artnet News, Francesca Gavin states "a track record that shows consistent production and an interested base can go a long way toward convincing a dealer that you are a known quantity."

Karen Chernick writes "For artists, being affiliated with a gallery can provide the backing needed to continue working. And for collectors, knowing that a trusted gallery is throwing their support behind an artist is a huge vote of confidence and often a definitive market signal." (Artsy)

However, as Gavin notes, "If you haven’t got a gallery, that does not invalidate your work as an artist."

Whether an artist has gallery representation or not, a key to success is great business organization and pursuing proactive sales activities. By having Primer as a CRM, artists can sell directly to collectors in a fast and professional way through offers and viewing rooms. Plus, all their artworks, sales, exhibitions, and other activites are archived and backed up. Primer offer free training and customer support to best utilize your Primer subscription. With a visually oriented design and intuitive workflow, Primer is made for users of all levels of experience.

Later, if an artist does begin working more exclusively with a gallery, they are instantly ready to provide a picture of their career trajectory and collector support. In fact, dealers report that they are more inclined to pick up an artist who has a clear archive of their past sales and collector base.

GALLERIST DAVID ZWIRNER AND ARTIST YAYOI KUSAMA. PHOTO: ANDREW TOTH/GETTY IMAGES. VIA ARTNET NEWS