What commission does an art gallery charge, and what you get for it
Galleries charge a commission on the sale, not a fee: which percentages are usual in the primary market and on consignment, what the commission covers and what the written agreement must say.
ByErick González
The question comes from two sides: the artist considering a gallery and the collector who wants to sell a work. The answer is the same structure with different numbers: a gallery charges a percentage of the sale, when the sale happens, and in return does the work that turns a work into a sale. What changes is the percentage and what it includes.
What is usual in the market
Primary-market representation (the gallery sells the artist's new work): the international norm sits between 40 and 50 percent of the sale price. The gallery funds exhibitions, fairs, catalogues, transport and the relationship with collectors and institutions.
Consignment of a collector's work (secondary market): a lower percentage, agreed per work, because the gallery is placing an existing work rather than building the artist's career.
Private sale: similar to consignment, sometimes with a minimum, for the work of finding the buyer without publishing the work.
How we do it at Avant.Dev
There is no listing fee and no fee for appearing on the site. The commission is agreed in writing before the work is offered, is the same for a private sale and for a consignment, and you see it in the terms before signing. You are paid once the collector has received the work. Roster artists see their sales and payouts from their account; on a resale, the artist receives a royalty recorded in the same ledger as the certificate.
What the commission covers
The price: setting it from the artist's record and the market, and holding it.
The presentation: photography, text, the work's page and its place in the collections.
The collectors: the gallery presents the work to those who follow the artist or the medium.
The transaction: payment through the site, the invoice, delivery insured and quoted by destination.
The document: the certificate of authenticity, issued or transferred the day the work leaves.
What the agreement must say
The percentage and what it is calculated on (the sale price, before taxes and delivery).
Who sets the price and who can authorise a discount.
The consignment term and how the work is withdrawn.
Who insures the work while in custody and while travelling.
When payment is made and with which document.
Frequently asked questions
Is a 50 percent commission abusive?
In the primary market it is the norm and usually fair if the gallery does the work: exhibitions, fairs, institutions and collectors. What is abusive is charging without doing it, or charging fees on top of the commission.
Can I negotiate the commission?
Yes, especially on consignment and private sales, where it depends on the work and the effort it needs. Always ask for the agreement in writing.
How do I ask for representation as an artist?
Create an account as an artist and send your portfolio from Account → Representation. We answer within two weeks.
How avant.dev helps
Art advisory is what we do every day from Mexico City: we help collectors discover, acquire and build collections of original contemporary art, with the paperwork, the delivery and the certificate handled. If you would like a second opinion before your next acquisition, book a free 30-minute consultation or browse the works available now.
This content is for information and education only and does not constitute financial, investment, legal or tax advice.
Keep reading
Art Concierge
How to sell a work of art in Mexico: private sale, consignment and what to have ready
Three ways to sell a work in Mexico: open it to offers with its certificate, consign it to a gallery, or sell it privately. Which documents you need, how the price is set and when you get paid.
Art Concierge
How to know if a work of art is original: certificate, provenance and the questions a gallery must answer
A work is original when its history can be checked. What a certificate of authenticity is, what a complete provenance says, how a QR is verified, and which answers not to accept.