Tag: artist income

You know that feeling when you split a bill with friends and somehow end up paying way more than what you ordered? That’s how a lot of artists feel when they first see a gallery’s commission rate. Fifty percent ,  sometimes more ,  can sound like daylight robbery when you’re the one who spent months creating the work. But that number isn’t random, and understanding where it comes from changes everything about how you approach it. Gallery commissions are less about greed and more about systems. Rent, staff, marketing, shipping, openings…

If you have ever sat staring at a blank invoice, second-guessing every number you typed, you are not alone. Pricing your art feels scary because it forces you to put a number on something deeply personal. Unlike selling a shirt or a coffee mug, your art carries your time, your ideas, and a piece of your identity. That makes the process of deciding “what it’s worth” feel almost like deciding “what you’re worth.” It is a heavy emotional lift, which is why many artists either avoid it or undercut themselves. But…