the gallery that wanted me to frame everything myself, is this normal?

I had a gallery in Delhi showing interest in my Mithila work. Very excited I was. Then they said, you will arrange framing yourself and also deliver to the venue at your own cost. For a group show, not even solo. I thought the gallery handles presentation side no? Otherwise what is the gallery doing.

I told them sorry ji, this arrangement does not work for me. Maybe I lost an opportunity but it felt wrong.

What is your experience with this? Which costs the gallery should cover and which the artist bears? I am still learning the business side after so many years of just painting. 🙏

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Karen Wessel·1w

Oh I'd have done the same thing honestly. From what I've learned, framing is usually on the gallery for a group show, that's part of what they do. Especially in a physical space, they want the presentation to be consistent.

I've had it both ways myself. For a local group show last fall, the gallery framed everything for us. Then another place asked me to bring my work ready to hang but they handled the rest. But asking you to frame AND deliver at your own cost for a group show? That feels like they're passing off too much of their job onto you.

You made the right call. There will be other opportunities with places that treat artists more fairly 🙂

Ramesh JhaOP·1w

Yes exactly. You said it well, what am I paying them for if not the presentation? The wall is just a wall. Even in the village we know that.

Your experience is helpful to hear. So sometimes it is done, bringing ready to hang, but framing on artist entirely is not standard. I thought maybe I am being difficult. But this felt like they wanted all the benefit and none of the work.

Thank you for sharing. 🙏

Camille Laurent·1w

You're right that framing is usually on the gallery for a group show. But I'll say this, I've known some very good small galleries that genuinely can't afford it and are honest about that, and I've worked with them because the relationship was right otherwise. The difference is they say it up front and they don't pretend it's standard. This gallery in Delhi just expected it, which tells you everything about how they see artists.

You were right to walk. The right opportunity doesn't feel wrong at the start.

Mateo Serrano·1w

ay, this is one of those things nobody tells you when you're starting. the framing thing especially, joder, that's a lot to put on an artist for a group show. i've heard mixed things but usually for a group show the gallery at least covers presentation, that's literally part of what they do. framing, installation, lighting... otherwise what are they bringing to the table besides wall space?

you were right to walk honestly. there's always another opportunity and the ones that respect your work from the start are the ones worth taking. i've turned down a couple markets that wanted me to pay for table + commission on top, felt bad for a week then moved on. no regrets.

for what it's worth, i think standard is gallery covers presentation and opening costs, artist covers transport to the venue (sometimes they split it if it's far). but framing?? that's wild to me. you made the call.

Ramesh JhaOP·1w

Exactly ji, that is what I thought also, what are they bringing if not the presentation? Wall space only I can find myself, I don't need a gallery for that.

You are right, respect from the beginning is important. My mother used to say, if they do not value your work at the start, they will value it even less later. I am learning this slowly. The markets you turned down, was it also framing and delivery they wanted from you, or something else?