SoWa Art + Design District and L'Original: apply to sell with the reputation of the galleries
SoWa turned Boston's South End into a district of studios and markets where the public comes to meet artists every season. 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 SoWa Art + Design District. This page compares two options for artists.
- Artsy listing included
- Two physical galleries
- We pitch, you paint
What to know about SoWa Art + Design District
- A district of studios, galleries and artist markets in Boston's South End.
- Market activity is seasonal and requires the artist's presence.
- The clientele is local, with heavy footfall in the warmer months.
SoWa puts artists in direct contact with a loyal Boston audience, and it is a model that works during the season. It requires being there, staffing a stall and working around the calendar. L'Original covers the other half of the year and another market, with no presence required, 62% of every sale and work that only leaves the studio once sold.
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 | SoWa Art + Design District | L'Original |
|---|---|---|
| Direct contact with the public | Strong, a loyal Boston audience | The gallery represents the artist |
| Seasonality | Pronounced | All year |
| Presence required | Yes | None |
| Transport | At the artist's expense | Courier appointed and paid by the gallery |
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
SoWa Art + Design District and L'Original
- How do you sell outside market season?
- A seasonal model leaves several months without a storefront. L'Original provides continuous presence online, on Artsy and in rotation across two Montréal galleries, with 62% of every sale for the artist. 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 have to give up your other sales channels?
- No. L'Original requires no exclusivity and no minimum term. The only rule is that a work's price is identical from one channel to the next. L'Original is neither affiliated with nor a partner of SoWa Art + Design District. This page compares two options for artists.
- Which works does L'Original accept?
- Physical original works only: paintings, sculptures and work by muralists. No prints, reproductions or digital works. Prices start at CA$1 per square inch and the artist sets them freely above that floor.
- Can an artist who does not live in Canada apply?
- Yes. L'Original addresses artists worldwide and applies no residency criterion. The criteria are about the work: physical originals only, quality photographs, prices from $1 per square inch, and consistent presentation across platforms.
- How does my work reach the gallery?
- You ship nothing in advance: the work stays in your studio until it sells. When a sale happens, the gallery appoints and pays a courier that collects it from you, wherever you are in the world, and delivers it to the buyer. You advance no shipping costs and take no risk on moving an unsold work.
- Who handles customs and import taxes?
- The gallery handles customs formalities. Where import duties or taxes are charged, they are payable by the buyer, as with any cross-border purchase. You have no declaration to file and no duties to advance.
- Is my work shown physically in Montréal?
- Your work is shown online and on Artsy at all times, and it also enters the rotation in the two Montréal galleries. That rotation is real but partial: the walls never mirror the full catalogue, so the gallery does not guarantee that a specific work is hanging at a given moment.
- Are prices and subscriptions in Canadian dollars?
- All amounts shown are in Canadian dollars: the $1 per square inch floor as well as the $8 and $22 monthly subscriptions. An artist thinking in euros or Swiss francs should convert before setting their price list.
Your artworks
deserve to be seen.
Join a community of artists who exhibit, sell, and grow.