How much commission does an art gallery take?
Commission is the number that worries every artist considering a gallery. Here are the real ranges, what you actually get for the fee, and how to tell a fair deal from a bad one.
The typical range: 40–60%
Most established galleries take between 40% and 60% of the sale price. It sounds steep — but that fee covers the space, the staff, the collectors, the marketing and the credibility that let your work sell at a higher price in the first place.
What a fair commission should include
A fair deal is transparent: clear percentage, who pays for framing, shipping and promotion, and when you get paid. If a gallery takes a large cut but does no real promotion, the commission is not buying you anything.
Lower-commission, artist-first models
A newer generation of galleries keeps a smaller cut and focuses on volume, online reach and genuinely promoting their artists. L'Original was built to put more of each sale back in the artist's pocket while still providing real gallery credibility.
