Buying From a Gallery: Tips From the Pros

Retrospective by Patty Mikles: ALT Gallery, Sedona AZ

Perhaps you’ve made a purchase from a gallery in the past; or, perhaps you’re hoping to do so in the near future. Supporting artists and the galleries who display their work is not only a noble cause, but a way to collect and display pieces of art that represent you, a time in your life or your space.
 
When making a purchase at a gallery, there are a few tips that might make the experience more helpful, and possibly, even more enjoyable than it already would have otherwise been. When buying from a gallery, here are a few ‘tips from the pros’…
 
1. Shipping. If you’re visiting a gallery from out-of-town or out-of-state, it is most often the case that a gallery can ship your piece right to your home or office. Most buyers don’t want to deal with the hassle of taking art in a car or on a plane as they travel home. Therefore, most galleries take care of the heavy lifting for you! In some cases there may be a fee to send and insure your piece, while other galleries may include shipping with the purchase.
 
2. Commissions. Sometimes it’s the case that you find an artist that really speaks to you through their artwork. However, it may be that there either: isn’t a piece in your price range, or you might need a specific size piece for your space. Ask the gallery director or assistant if the artist takes commissions. Commissions is a fancy word for ‘custom pieces’. It is often the case that artists will consider crafting a piece just for you and your space – all you have to do is ask!
 
3. Choosing. Many individuals who are new to the world of buying art from galleries aren’t quite sure which piece to choose. Don’t worry – this is common! Some individuals will choose a piece by the size and where it will fit within their space, while others purchase functional art that they can imagine wearing or utilizing week after week. Our tip on choosing your art from a gallery is to select a piece that speaks to you.
 
Jennifer Aniston states, “…buy a piece of art if you HAVE to have it”.
 
If a piece of art moves you, strikes you as stunning or is just something you cannot live without – BUY IT. Art moves quickly through galleries, and new pieces replace the old day after day. Most piece of art are one of their kind, and will never be available again, once sold.
 
Feel confident buying art at a gallery with these tips from the pros. When in doubt, or when in question, always feel free to ask the staff at the gallery. Gallery employees are often art lovers, and know far more information than we can imagine, about each piece on display.
 
About the Author: The Sedona Gallery Association is a coalition of Sedona, Arizona’s preeminent galleries, featuring both emerging and internationally recognized artists. To learn more, or to visit galleries within the Sedona Gallery Association, visit: www.sedonagalleryassociation.com.

Ocean Bifurcation by Pilisa Rainbow Lady: Creative Gateways Gallery