Is the traditional gallery model a viable path for most artists to make a living?

No, the gallery model is not a viable financial model for the vast majority of artists. There’s a book called ‘The $12 Million Stuffed Shark’ that surveys the entire gallery model. It found that less than 1.5% of artists in the gallery system in London and New York were selling over $60,000 a year, and less than half a percent were making over six figures. It’s really in the realm of unicorns—like the difference between people who play a sport versus professional athletes. It’s great if you can get into a gallery (any legal revenue source is good), but it’s extremely rare to make a living from it alone.

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Asked by general teaching point · Answered by Patrick · Art Business Webinar · 2026-05-29