Akimbo and L'Original: apply to sell with the reputation of the galleries
Akimbo has circulated calls, job postings and opportunities across the Canadian art scene for years, coast to coast. L'Original adds a sales channel: 62% of every sale goes to the artist, with no exclusivity and logistics handled for you.
No commitment · No exclusivity
L'Original is neither affiliated with nor a partner of Akimbo. This page compares two options for artists.
- Artsy listing included
- Two physical galleries
- We pitch, you paint
What to know about Akimbo
- Listings distributed across the whole Canadian art field.
- The volume is national, so competition on each call is strong.
- A listings service does not sell work and handles no transactions.
A national board puts everyone on the same starting line, which is both useful and unforgiving: every interesting call receives many applications. L'Original does not play on that field. Applications there are permanent, the committee reviews on a rolling basis, and once accepted the artist has a continuous storefront online, on Artsy and in rotation across two Montréal galleries.
Create.
We handle the rest.
2/3 of artists sell internationally from their first year.
2/3 of artists sell internationally from their first year.
Presence on Artsy
Your works listed on Artsy, the largest online art platform in the world. Your works reach active international collectors without any extra effort on your part. The world's leading platform for collectors.
They talk about us
Showing your image across a vast network of media and collectors.
Two physical anchors for a worldwide audience.
Saint-Denis Gallery
4455 Rue Saint-Denis
Saint-Paul Gallery
163 Rue Saint-Paul Ouest
Saint-Denis Gallery
4455 Rue Saint-Denis
Two structures, two functions
| Criterion | Akimbo | L'Original |
|---|---|---|
| Coverage of the Canadian field | Very broad, coast to coast | One gallery, two addresses |
| Competition per opportunity | High, national audience | Committee, no quota |
| Transaction and shipping | Out of scope | Handled |
| Artist's share | Per the agreement | 62% of every sale |
Get started quickly.
The steps
Submit your application
Show us what you do. The form takes only 2 minutes.
Our committee evaluates you
Your file is read carefully by our team. We reply quickly.
Your works go live and into the gallery
You join our artist community, on the web and in physical space.
Selection criteria
Straight and well-lit photos
Clean images are the first impression you leave on collectors. Take the time to frame them well.
Prices above $1 per square inch
We work with artists who value their work. A consistent price is good for you and for the whole community.
The same on your platforms and ours
Your universe must be recognizable and consistent, here as elsewhere.
Reach collectors online and in two physical galleries
- You keep 62%, set your own prices
- Listed on L'Original + Artsy
- Shown on screens in both galleries
No guaranteed sales can be promised
Exposure on professional platforms increases visibility
Sales depend on artwork quality, pricing, and consistency
Strong profiles generally perform well in 2/3 cases
Artists receive 62% of each sale
The gallery retains 38%
You don't handle logistics. We take care of all the paperwork: you simply pack your artwork, and we come to pick it up.
The price shown online includes the average shipping cost, which we add on top so collectors see an all-inclusive price.
The price you submit must be the same as on your other sales channels, and it already includes our commission.
$8/month plan includes same benefits as $22/month plan
$8/month requires a dedicated page on your personal website
Subscription is monthly or yearly
You can cancel after the billing period ends
Only original physical artworks are accepted
Prints and digital reproductions are not allowed
Artist Partnership Program
- Exposure in our online gallery via our website
- Access to a personal account on L'Original platform
- Access to Artsy, an international artist and collector platform
- Physical galleries are reserved for established artists
- Your works will be exhibited online via L'Original and Artsy
- Screen displays in galleries show online artworks to visitors
- Physical exhibition possible if online performance is strong
- Minimum price: $1 per square inch
- Artists are free to set their own prices above this threshold
- You can register as a mural artist after joining the platform
- No in-person meeting is required
- Everything can be done via messages (DMs or online communication)
- Artists apply from anywhere in the world; visiting a gallery is optional:
- 163 rue Saint-Paul (Old Port)
- 4455 rue Saint-Denis (Plateau)
- High-quality, well-lit artwork photos
- Pricing above $1 per square inch
- Consistent artistic universe across platforms
- You choose which artworks to list
- All criteria are available on the official page:
- https://www.loriginal.org/en/join-as-artist
Akimbo and L'Original
- Akimbo or a gallery for an artist who wants to sell?
- They answer different needs: one informs about opportunities in the field, the other sells the work. L'Original handles sales continuously, with 62% of every sale for the artist and logistics covered. L'Original is a Montréal gallery and studio representing more than 738 artists, with two physical addresses in Montréal and a presence on Artsy.
- Do you need to live in a particular area to apply?
- No, there is no residency criterion. The committee assesses the work, the quality of the photographs and the consistency of presentation across platforms. L'Original is neither affiliated with nor a partner of Akimbo. This page compares two options for artists.
- Which works does L'Original accept?
- Physical original works only: paintings, sculptures and work by muralists. Prints, reproductions and digital works are not accepted, in order to preserve the value of the original. Prices start at $1 per square inch and the artist sets them freely above that floor.
Your artworks
deserve to be seen.
Join a community of artists who exhibit, sell, and grow.