The collector who bargained me down 40% and then resold the piece six months later
I had a piece in a group show maybe five, six years ago. Collector came around, liked it, asked the gallery for my contact. Wanted it for his private collection, he said. But the price, could I do better if we went direct, no gallery cut?
I was between shows, rent was due, so I said yes like an idiot. Knocked off almost forty percent. He paid in two installments, took his time on the second one.
Six months later I see the same piece at a design auction in London. Estimate was three times what he paid me. Sold for above estimate.
I should be angry but mostly I respect the play. Guy saw me coming from across the room. I was the one who said yes.
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Oh man, this one hurts. I think I'd be less mad about the resale and more mad about the slow second installment honestly, that's the part that gets me. Like okay you played me on price fine but making me chase you for the rest while you're already planning the flip? That's cold.
I haven't been in this exact situation but I've definitely undersold stuff because I needed the money in that exact moment and then watched it end up somewhere I couldn't afford to have it. There's this weird thing where you're grateful someone wanted it at all and furious at the same time.
Do you still paint in that same style or has your work moved on since? I always wonder if people who do this kind of thing come back around later when your prices are higher lol
This is the trouble when we are in need and the other person knows it. They can smell it like a cat smells fish from far away. I have seen this with our cooperative also, buyers come who know we are eager to sell, they press a little, we give in. Afterwards the piece sits in some city home and we hear it was sold for many times more.
But ji, the slow payment, that is not just cold, it is disrespectful. If you are buying a thing made with the hand, with the heart, you should pay like you respect it. Even a small price paid fully is better than a big price paid with delay and chasing.
I hope you are painting still. The hunger passes, the art remains.
🙏
The slow second payment is what taught me. If someone's that casual about paying you, they already know they're getting the better end of it. I was just too hungry to see it clearly.
And no, I don't lose sleep over it anymore. But I've never done a direct deal since without a contract and a timeline. Learned that much.
The slow second payment is what taught me. If someone's that casual about paying you, they already know they're getting the better end of it. I was just too hungry to see it clearly.
And no, I don't paint in that style anymore. That period's done. The work I make now would be harder to flip, which suits me fine. Not that someone wouldn't try if they saw the angle.