tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30832682.post2750511696981420412..comments2024-03-03T15:01:00.402-05:00Comments on Joanne Mattera Art Blog: Marketing Mondays: When Your Dealer Won't Tell You Who's Bought Your WorkUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30832682.post-62578703065143611482016-02-26T08:56:29.198-05:002016-02-26T08:56:29.198-05:00This is an interesting post/thread to read. I'...This is an interesting post/thread to read. I'm a gallery owner in the UK and over here it would be illegal for me to pass on the name and contact details of the buyer without prior written consent, due to data protection laws. Besides which, for most purchases small enough that they don't need us to arrange delivery it would be very unusual for us to ask for their contact details in the Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30832682.post-66999606009567012622011-04-13T16:44:43.785-04:002011-04-13T16:44:43.785-04:00While I acknowledge that relationships and situati...While I acknowledge that relationships and situations come in many shades, it is really helpful to know for yourself what your expectations are in any encounter. For any place I show, I have a contract I give the person I've been talking with. We negotiate it. Whatever the outcome, at least I'm clear about it. I can say yes or no. I've said 'no' perhaps more than some, but Jesa Damorahttp://www.jesadamora.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30832682.post-12425472524873055512010-10-03T05:29:17.562-04:002010-10-03T05:29:17.562-04:00Citing a dealer: "you do not know who they ar...Citing a dealer: "you do not know who they are, but they do know who you are". The right to signature is cast in stone [perhaps the signed reproductions is where this gets obvious?] the rest... I have the feeling that art buyers in different parts of the world have different preferences about letting dealers give away their names: unthinkable in some parts, blurred / personal in most, A Vhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04712069874917480932noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30832682.post-51720866253143973672010-05-06T15:03:43.864-04:002010-05-06T15:03:43.864-04:00My galleries are very open about who has purchased...My galleries are very open about who has purchased my work. One gallery even gives me a copy of the client invoice. I have been contacted directly by collectors and I always refer them back to the gallery where they purchased my work, something that is impossible to do if the gallery doesn't tell you who is purchasing your work. In one instance I was contacted by a collector for specific Amber Georgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04397670116905730379noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30832682.post-79324329175250462542010-03-17T11:25:14.211-04:002010-03-17T11:25:14.211-04:00In the 80's and early 90's, I was a dealer...In the 80's and early 90's, I was a dealer and worked in several "high-profile" galleries in NYC. We always told the artist who bought their work, and it was never an issue because the artists did not want to jeopardize their relationship with the gallery. I think every artist and gallery or dealer relationship should be documented with a contract that spells out stuff like thisClaire Roderick Keerlnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30832682.post-792111029727551732010-03-14T21:13:58.717-04:002010-03-14T21:13:58.717-04:00Thanks for addressing this topic Joanne. I asked m...Thanks for addressing this topic Joanne. I asked my former gallery to provide the names (and city only) of the clients who purchased my work for the sole purpose of keeping track of my work after learning that some of my colleagues were provided this information by their galleries. Although I'd been with the gallery 3 years and I always directed sales inquiries I received to the gallery AND Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30832682.post-69353279233688973652010-03-09T10:19:50.586-05:002010-03-09T10:19:50.586-05:00Responding to Patty A., I have found this tendency...Responding to Patty A., I have found this tendency more pronounced on dealer websites than on sites where the artist sells direct. It seems to be a holdout from the brick-and-mortar gallery tradition of not showing prices next to the art lest the price somehow "interferes" with looking at the art. Usually you can get a price list at the desk, however. I believe providing a list is a Larrynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30832682.post-2598999607692889092010-03-09T10:16:14.697-05:002010-03-09T10:16:14.697-05:00Joanne, Again, the voice of reason! I don't li...Joanne, Again, the voice of reason! I don't list prices on my website either. I want the experience to be about my art and my vision, process and journey. It's an archive as well as a place to present new work and ideas. It's not about selling. But I always welcome feedback, queries, dialogue. <br /><br />I also don't want it looking like Etsy or ebay. Selling is something I let LXVhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18396149640519096992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30832682.post-71820327719352634652010-03-09T09:49:39.935-05:002010-03-09T09:49:39.935-05:00Patty,
I don't have prices on my website becau...Patty,<br />I don't have prices on my website because I don't sell from there, so I can't respond from experience. But if you're interested in an artist's work, how hard is it to send an email? What a good opportunity to become more engaged!Joanne Matterahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02564594823192456546noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30832682.post-54143967950445542382010-03-09T09:20:21.488-05:002010-03-09T09:20:21.488-05:00This is so interesting. I am fortunate to work wit...This is so interesting. I am fortunate to work with a gallery owner who is transparent about collectors.<br /><br />Regarding the issue of handing out cards at openings, etc. In addition to cards that have just my contact info, I have cards that have my contact info printed on them along with the gallery info. I have these available to the gallery owner and carry them myself. <br /><br />They Pamela Farrellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14892384331947566237noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30832682.post-55709511416599282712010-03-09T08:33:21.221-05:002010-03-09T08:33:21.221-05:00I have a question. Artists have website where the...I have a question. Artists have website where they post work for sales, but no prices. They ask you to contact them for the price. I am on a limited budget and I won't contact the artist because I don't want to take up their time buy asking the price. I figure if they don't post their price, I can't afford it. Why don't they just post the price?patty a.https://www.blogger.com/profile/01861433552460661701noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30832682.post-7456548084355993442010-03-08T22:45:04.236-05:002010-03-08T22:45:04.236-05:00I've never experienced a secretive attitude fr...I've never experienced a secretive attitude from a dealer. On the contrary, I've had dealers introduce me to their artists; I've had dealers bring me to artists' studios; one dealer I know well hosts monthly dinners where artists and collectors can get together. I don't get the secrecy thing at all.Larrynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30832682.post-91403872597849997952010-03-08T21:33:11.925-05:002010-03-08T21:33:11.925-05:00I always thought that dealers were required to pro...I always thought that dealers were required to provide detailed sales data to their artists; thanks for this discussion. The lack of trust is the disappointing point about this, IMO.<br /><br />Somewhat related, what do you all think of dealers asking their artists to hand over their mailing lists? Aren't dealers there to bring in new clients, and not to get a piece of an artist's Kim Matthewshttp://kimmatthewsart.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30832682.post-2722957997492983032010-03-08T18:44:46.260-05:002010-03-08T18:44:46.260-05:00Great comments, everyone.
Thanks to the anonymou...Great comments, everyone. <br /><br />Thanks to the anonymous dealer who commented that some collectors don't wish to have their contact info given out. That's suprising, but as this anon points out, most collectors enjoy the interaction. (Indeed, at the recent art fairs I ran into an artist, her dealer, and a client of the gallery who is one of that artist's collectors. They were Joanne Matterahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02564594823192456546noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30832682.post-26951759357531114212010-03-08T18:33:41.089-05:002010-03-08T18:33:41.089-05:00Joanne - thanks so much for posting this question ...Joanne - thanks so much for posting this question - I see I am not alone! Very interesting commentary...Susan M.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30832682.post-90037119539644156832010-03-08T17:55:57.224-05:002010-03-08T17:55:57.224-05:00I've always been transparent with my galleries...I've always been transparent with my galleries. I have had personal (earlier) clients come to a show and buy my pieces from the gallery. I have sold pieces which were out at shows to clients and given the gallery their full share. Early on, I even gave my 400 personal mailing list to a gallery. Not once have I been told who bought my paintings, even after a gallery has closed and gone out of mariandioguardi.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16963944767715466681noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30832682.post-64560397113199774722010-03-08T15:26:41.873-05:002010-03-08T15:26:41.873-05:00Oh yes. I remember some time ago, a small gallery...Oh yes. I remember some time ago, a small gallery in Boston asked me to prepare about a dozen images from Greece for a 2 week showing. I got them ready, and everything was great. <br />On opening night, I walked in with my guest book. Not that I <b><i>had</i></b> to use it, but I figured "just in case." The owner was adamant that she does not allow it, and instead pulled out a <b>AndreasDThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03502760519993620134noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30832682.post-76079842619235321332010-03-08T14:50:32.702-05:002010-03-08T14:50:32.702-05:00This is complicated because the buyer is a client ...This is complicated because the buyer is a client of the gallery and sometimes, they (the client) don't want their personal information to go to anyone, including the artist. At the gallery I worked at, we were quite happy to share the name of the person or company the work sold to but not the address, phone number etc. especially if the client requested this information be kept confidential.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30832682.post-2085124862482399512010-03-08T14:45:33.514-05:002010-03-08T14:45:33.514-05:00I wonder how long you have been working with your ...I wonder how long you have been working with your dealer. Maybe that trust is still building?Hraghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02777822271789999167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30832682.post-32707503530739842792010-03-08T12:05:30.043-05:002010-03-08T12:05:30.043-05:00A few years ago I had work in a gallery and each t...A few years ago I had work in a gallery and each time a piece of mine was sold I was sent the name and address of the purchaser and asked to send them a note expressing my delight over their purchase. I just felt a bit odd about doing this. In this case the gallery owner was being very transparent and I appreciate that but is this the artist's responsibility to follow up after the sale?KRCampbellArthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15185783768927918993noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30832682.post-4582062243551101392010-03-08T10:21:08.290-05:002010-03-08T10:21:08.290-05:00I‘ve had this experience with most galleries, deal...I‘ve had this experience with most galleries, dealers, and exhibition sites that have sold my work over the years. Consequently I've lost record of those works of art and the potential to foster a long-term relationship with the buyers/collectors. I expect the reason for secrecy is that dealers feel threatened that artists will circumvent the gallery process and offer sales on the side, Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06108770813588197855noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30832682.post-77583587814801665822010-03-08T10:08:29.712-05:002010-03-08T10:08:29.712-05:00I left a gallery recently who did not share a buye...I left a gallery recently who did not share a buyer's contact information. In California it is the law to share this information. He lied about being unable to find it and offered me a physical description of the buyer instead! Yes, that should help with the provenance of the painting for future documentation.!Sarah Winklerhttp://www.sarahwinkler.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30832682.post-7095792703570204182010-03-08T09:43:18.103-05:002010-03-08T09:43:18.103-05:00I had a gallery director call me and tell me he di...I had a gallery director call me and tell me he didn't want me to put any of my contact information on my inventory, which consisted mostly of cards and small reproductions and a few originals. I told him that if I was ever contacted by anyone who came from the gallery, I would either pay the gallery a commission or route the sale through the gallery and that I had no intention of trying to Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30832682.post-65837734450026060222010-03-08T08:52:47.891-05:002010-03-08T08:52:47.891-05:00After my first NY solo at a downtown gallery I had...After my first NY solo at a downtown gallery I had a similar experience. The gallery owner refused to give me a copy of the guest list from the show. This ruined an otherwise productive relationship. The problem for me at the time was that it felt wrong, yet I really had no idea what the protocol was. Now I trust my instincts, as with any relationship, and expect trust and transparency. P.S. I lasukinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30832682.post-85049129532065783402010-03-08T07:05:21.929-05:002010-03-08T07:05:21.929-05:00I'm in some very reputable galleries in New En...I'm in some very reputable galleries in New England and the policy has always been secretive. I thought it was standard procedure. They work hard to get their clients and their mailing lists and don't feel its public information. They see it as their own private information. <br /><br />I just never questioned it. Didn't like it, but just followed the rules...<br /><br />I can Susan Rouxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01811139850899265798noreply@blogger.com