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Originally Posted by Marvin Mattelson
Leslie, it sounds to me as though are under the assumption that gallery owners and reps place the best interest of the artists they represent, first and foremost their minds. Although there are some who do concern themselves with our well being they are, according to my personal experience, in the minority. Any artist who manages to have a reciprocal relationship with their representative is blessed indeed.
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Marvin, personally I have no assumptions, having had no contact with the creatures myself beyond the experience of founding a gallery, which is the one I'm speaking of now. It's gone along on its own merry way, though, and the new board has new ideas. I'm just wondering how their new policies dovetail with the needs of a portrait artist, which are somewhat different from those of a landscape, still-life or abstract painter. Others have suggested that the hoops are justified because of the marketing the gallery does for its artists, but you're saying that's not the case. So what's the point of the commission they take and the restrictions they place?
If people on this forum thought they made sense and had ideas about how they could work for a portrait artist, I'd reconsider showing there. Or if the consensus seemed to be that they were inappropriate for our profession I'd share those opinions with the exhibition committee. As it is I've declined an opportunity for exposure there (three or four paintings on the gallery's artist member's wall, with no PR involved) because I don't care for the new restrictions. If they were going to be promoting me, maybe I would feel differently.
Do you ever show in a gallery, Marvin, and if so, under what conditions?