Anyone else had a gallery love the work but fumble the sale?
i had a small gallery take a piece of mine for a group show a few years back. the director was genuinely into it, talked about it in a way that made me think she actually saw what i was doing. then the sale happened and it was chaos. she underpriced it, forgot to tell me the buyer's timeline, and i found out the piece sold when the buyer emailed ME asking when they could pick it up.
i got paid eventually, and i was honestly just glad someone wanted the thing. but it made me wonder how common that is. like does a good gallery relationship ever come without some kind of fumble on their end?
what's your worst (or best) story of a gallery loving your work but dropping the ball on the actual selling part?
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Common enough that you learn to cover your own end. I had a gallery lose the paperwork on a commission once. Client paid, gallery couldn't remember what they'd agreed to for delivery. I had the emails, so it sorted out, but it taught me something: the gallery is a sales agent, not a partner in your studio. You keep your own records, you stay in touch with the buyer if you can, and you set your price in writing before the piece walks out the door.
Not saying it's always like that. I've worked with a couple of people who ran things clean and straight. But the ones who "really get the work" sometimes get the work and forget the business part. That enthusiasm doesn't always translate to competence.
Glad you got paid and the piece found a home. But next time, have your own numbers and timeline in writing before you hand it over. You shouldn't be the last to know your own piece sold.