Working with Art Consultants: A Guide for Artists
Sell your art through consultants and advisors. How corporate and private art consulting works, what consultants look for, and how to build these relationships.
Working with Art Consultants: A Guide for Artists
Description: Sell your art through consultants and advisors. How corporate and private art consulting works, what consultants look for, and how to build these relationships.
Tags: art consultants, corporate art sales, art advisors, selling to corporations, artist representation, art consulting, commercial art sales, art for offices
Working with Art Consultants: A Guide for Artists
Art consultants connect artists with collectors, corporations, and institutions. They represent a significant sales channel outside the traditional gallery system. This guide explains how consulting works and how to build relationships in this market.
Quick Answer
- Art consultants buy for corporate clients, hotels, hospitals, and private collectors
- They look for reliable artists who deliver quality work on time
- Larger editions and reproducible work fits consulting projects better
- Relationships build slowly through professionalism and consistent output
- Consulting sales are often volume-based at lower margins than gallery sales
Key Takeaways
- Different market than galleries: Consultants prioritize reliability, availability, and fit over cutting-edge concepts
- Corporate work has constraints: Size, color, subject matter, and timeline requirements are common
- Higher volume, lower margins: Per-piece prices may be lower but quantities higher
- Professional behavior matters: Consultants work with artists who meet deadlines and communicate clearly
- Long-term relationships pay off: One good project leads to referrals and repeat work
Understanding Art Consulting
What Art Consultants Do
Corporate consultants:
- Source art for office buildings, headquarters, and commercial spaces
- Work with interior designers and architects
- Manage large-scale art programs
- Handle acquisition, installation, and sometimes curation
Private advisors:
- Guide individual collectors in building collections
- Advise on purchases at galleries, fairs, and auctions
- Help with collection management and estate planning
- Often work with high-net-worth clients
Institutional consultants:
- Work with hospitals, universities, and public institutions
- Navigate public art requirements
- Manage community engagement processes
- Handle commissioning and installation
Types of Consulting Projects
Consulting Project Types
| Project Type | Typical Scope | What Artists Provide |
|---|---|---|
| Corporate headquarters | 20-500+ pieces | Original work, editions, commissions |
| Hotel or hospitality | 100-1,000+ pieces | Often editions or prints, some originals |
| Healthcare facilities | 50-300+ pieces | Calming work, often reproductions |
| Private collection | 1-20 pieces | Original work, specific acquisitions |
| Public art commission | 1-5 large works | Site-specific commissions |
How Consultants Find Artists
Sources consultants use:
- Art fairs and gallery exhibitions
- Online portfolios and databases
- Artist registries and directories
- Referrals from other consultants
- Direct outreach from artists
What triggers their interest:
- Work that fits current project needs
- Professional presentation
- Clear pricing and availability information
- Recommendation from trusted source
What Consultants Look For
Professional Presentation
Essential materials:
- High-resolution images of available work
- Clear dimensions and pricing
- Professional CV
- Artist statement
- Contact information
Helpful additions:
- Previous corporate/consulting projects listed
- Ability to work in editions or series
- Custom commission experience
- Timeline for producing new work
Work Characteristics
Corporate-friendly qualities:
- Non-controversial subject matter (for most projects)
- Colors that work in professional environments
- Sizes that fit typical office walls
- Durability for high-traffic areas
- Reproducibility for large projects
This does not mean:
- Your work must be boring or generic
- You must compromise your artistic vision
- Every artist fits every consulting project
- Consulting work is inferior to gallery work
Some artists thrive in consulting; others do not fit the market. Both are valid.
Reliability and Communication
Consultants need artists who:
- Respond to inquiries promptly
- Deliver work on time
- Communicate clearly about availability
- Handle logistics professionally
- Manage expectations realistically
One missed deadline can end a relationship. Consultants answer to clients with construction schedules and grand openings. They cannot afford unreliable artists.
Pricing Flexibility
Consulting projects often involve:
- Volume discounts for larger orders
- Project-specific pricing
- Negotiation within established ranges
- Different pricing for originals vs. editions
Be prepared to discuss pricing ranges rather than fixed prices.
Approaching Art Consultants
Research First
Before reaching out:
- Study the consultant's portfolio of past projects
- Understand their client types
- See if your work genuinely fits
- Find specific contact information
Major art consulting firms:
- Art Advisory (various firms with this name)
- NINE dot ARTS
- ILevel Art Placement
- Art Assets
- Kinzelman Art Consulting
Plus many regional and specialized consultants.
Making Contact
What to send:
- Brief introduction (2-3 sentences)
- Link to your portfolio or website
- 5-10 images of representative work
- Your location and availability
- Note about what drew you to their work
What NOT to send:
- Mass emails to every consultant
- Huge file attachments
- Lengthy artist statements
- Demands for immediate response
- Requests for feedback on work
Sample Outreach Email
Subject: Artist portfolio - [Your Name], [Your Medium]
Dear [Consultant Name],
I saw your recent project at [Building/Client] and thought my
work might fit your upcoming projects. I create [brief description]
and have experience with [relevant experience - corporate commissions,
editions, large scale work, etc.].
Portfolio: [link]
Available inventory: [link or PDF]
I'm based in [city] and available for studio visits if helpful.
Best,
[Your Name]
[Phone]
[Website]
Following Up
- Wait 2-3 weeks before following up
- One follow-up is appropriate
- If no response, add them to a list for future updates
- Annual portfolio updates to past contacts can revive relationships
Working with Consultants
The Selection Process
How projects typically work:
- Consultant receives project brief from client
- Consultant searches inventory and artist files for fits
- Short list of artists/works presented to client
- Client selects from options
- Consultant negotiates with artists
- Production, delivery, and installation
You may never interact directly with the end client.
Pricing and Negotiations
Typical consulting discounts:
- 10-20% for single pieces
- 20-40% for larger orders
- Custom pricing for major projects
Consider:
- Your normal retail pricing as starting point
- Cost savings from volume (less marketing per piece)
- Value of the relationship and referrals
- Whether work is existing inventory or new production
Set minimums: Know the lowest price you will accept. Do not agree to terms that lose money.
Contracts and Terms
Standard terms to expect:
- Net 30 payment (sometimes net 60)
- Delivery requirements
- Installation support expectations
- Return policies for damaged work
- Rights regarding reproductions or documentation
Protect yourself:
- Get agreements in writing
- Clarify who pays shipping and crating
- Understand insurance coverage
- Set clear timelines and consequences
Commissioned Work
For custom commissions through consultants:
Define scope clearly:
- Size specifications
- Color requirements
- Subject matter guidelines
- Timeline expectations
- Approval process
Structure payments:
- Deposit before starting (typically 50%)
- Progress payments for large projects
- Final payment before delivery
Build in contingencies:
- Revision processes
- Rejection terms
- Kill fee if project cancels
Building Long-Term Relationships
Becoming a Go-To Artist
Consultants return to reliable artists.
What creates repeat business:
- Quality work delivered on time
- Easy communication
- Flexibility when possible
- Professional handling of problems
- Available inventory or quick production capacity
Stay visible:
- Send annual portfolio updates
- Notify of new bodies of work
- Share exhibition announcements
- Invite to studio when they visit your city
Growing Your Consulting Business
Once established:
- Ask for referrals to other consultants
- Develop work specifically for the market
- Build capacity to handle larger orders
- Consider hiring studio assistance for production
Balancing Consulting and Gallery Work
Potential conflicts:
- Galleries may want exclusive representation
- Pricing needs consistency across channels
- Time spent on consulting means less studio time
- Some galleries view consulting work negatively
Solutions:
- Discuss consulting openly with gallery
- Create separate bodies of work for each market
- Maintain consistent pricing or clear rationale for differences
- Honor exclusivity agreements
Common Challenges
The Approval Process
Corporate decisions take time.
Expect:
- Multiple rounds of presentations
- Slow internal decision-making
- Projects that stall or cancel
- Requests to hold work indefinitely
Protect yourself:
- Do not hold work exclusively for more than 30-60 days without deposit
- Continue marketing to other channels
- Build delays into project timelines
- Have backup plans when deals fall through
Color and Content Restrictions
Corporate clients have constraints.
Common requests:
- "Nothing too dark or depressing"
- "Colors that match the interior design"
- "No controversial subject matter"
- "Work appropriate for healthcare settings"
Your options:
- Accept the constraints for this market
- Decline projects that conflict with your practice
- Create specific work for these requirements
- Find consultants whose projects fit your work naturally
Payment Delays
Net 30 often becomes net 60 or longer.
Strategies:
- Build payment terms into pricing
- Invoice immediately upon delivery
- Follow up professionally on overdue payments
- Consider requiring deposits for new consultant relationships
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Get Discovered by Consultants
Make Your Work Easy to Find
Art consultants research artists online. A professional profile with clear images, pricing, and contact information makes their job easier.
Create your free Artsume profile to showcase your work to consultants and galleries. Your portfolio is searchable and shareable with anyone.
Build Your Professional Presence
Portfolio, CV, and contact information in one professional profile. Ready for consultants, galleries, and collectors.
Last updated: January 2025
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