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24 October 2026 · Updated at 07:47 GMT FR EN ES Member area Log in
Market

Galleries

The role of galleries in the careers of contemporary artists: representation, sales, advice and ethics.

Updated : October 28, 2026· 3 min read

The market's go-betweens

Scenes of Witchcraft: Day, Salvator Rosa (c. 1645–49)
Scenes of Witchcraft: Day, Salvator Rosa (c. 1645–49)

Contemporary art galleries play three roles: they discover and support artists, they produce and distribute their works, and they sell. The primary market rests almost entirely on them.

There are 3,450 galleries and dealers registered with OIMAP, of which 1,380 have obtained the conformity label. They sell directly, at fairs and increasingly online.

This page describes how a gallery works, the relationship with the artist and the guarantees a gallery owner must offer clients.

  • Galleries
  • Representation
  • Label

Galleries in figures

3,450Registered galleries
1,380Labelled galleries
50%Artist's share of the sale price
68%Sales made at fairs or online

Source: OIMAP Observatory.

Breakdown

Sales at the gallery32%
Sales at fairs41%
Online sales27%

Breakdown of galleries' sales.

A relationship of trust with the artist

A gallery represents an artist, often exclusively, in a geographic area. It organises their exhibitions, publishes their catalogues, negotiates their prices and, above all, protects their market value. A work sold too cheaply or a poorly managed auction resale can lastingly damage a career.

In return, the artist usually receives half of the sale price, excluding taxes. The contract specifies the duration, the exclusivity, the sharing of production costs and the fate of unsold works.

Prayer Niche (Mihrab) (c. 1500s or mid-1900s)
Prayer Niche (Mihrab) (c. 1500s or mid-1900s)
Relief of Apollo with Nike (27 BCE–14 CE)
Relief of Apollo with Nike (27 BCE–14 CE)
TLV Mirror with Multiple Nipples (9–23 CE)
TLV Mirror with Multiple Nipples (9–23 CE)

Galleries and the digital market

Galleries have embraced digital tools: online viewing rooms, online sales, digital certificates. This development has widened their clientele, but it demands new vigilance: identity checks, data protection, authenticity of images.

Labelled galleries can offer their clients digital certification of the work, which links the paper certificate to an online-verifiable record.

Landmarks

  1. Creation of the label

    First labelled galleries.

  2. Code of ethics

    Ten commitments.

  3. Online sales

    Extension of the label.

  4. 1,380 galleries

    A third of registered galleries.

Taking advice

Figure from a Crèche: Angel (1780–1830)
Figure from a Crèche: Angel (1780–1830)
Daffodil Table Lamp, Tiffany Studios (c. 1910–13)
Daffodil Table Lamp, Tiffany Studios (c. 1910–13)
Saint Mary Magdalen, Simon Vouet (c. 1630)
Saint Mary Magdalen, Simon Vouet (c. 1630)

Vocabulary of galleries

Representation
Mandate given to a gallery by an artist.
Exclusivity
Sole right to sell an artist's works.
Market value
Price level of an artist's works.
Label
Recognition of compliance with a code.

Frequently asked questions

Can a gallery set the price?

Yes, in agreement with the artist.

Can I negotiate?

Often, within a limit of 5 to 15%.

What should be done in case of dispute?

Mediation is offered to the parties.

Where can I see the label?

On the Conformity label page.

Useful documents

Contacts

The Apotheosis of Romulus: Design for a Ceiling, Domenico Maria Canuti (c. 1675–76)
The Apotheosis of Romulus: Design for a Ceiling, Domenico Maria Canuti (c. 1675–76)
OIMAP ObservatoryParis — Headquarters+33 1 00 00 01 00observatoire@oimap.exampleMonday to Friday, 9 am – 5 pm

Discover the fairs

Figure from a Crèche: Standing Mountain Goat (1780–1830)

Where nearly half of the works are sold.

Fairs
Image credits (16)
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