What Artists Sign Away
Collecting Art, take a look There is a moment in many artists’ careers when they realize the art world is far more comfortable protecting objects than protecting the people who make them. It rarely announces itself. There is no singular betrayal. More often, the shift happens quietly, inside a document presented as routine. “Standard agreement.” “Minor revision.” “Just a formality.” The moment arrives when an artist stops skimming and starts reading. Mine came before an exhibition had even opened. I was preparing for a show with a gallery I was working with for the first time when I received the initial consignment agreement. A consignment agreement allows a gallery to take possession of artwork and sell it on the artist’s behalf while retaining a percentage of the sale. Until a work is sold, ownership remains with the artist, but control over its sale is defined by the terms of that agreement. I had recently completed an Art Law-focused program, and it was the first time I felt eq...