What's the value of having one very expensive showstopper piece at art fairs?

A dramatically expensive showstopper piece - priced well above your normal range - serves as a powerful draw at art shows. People walking by will stop and say ‘wow, look at that,’ and it pulls them into your booth even if they have no intention of buying it. This gets foot traffic that might not have stopped otherwise. Once they’re in your booth drawn by the big piece, they see your full range and often purchase something in their price range. The expensive piece also projects that you have a sophisticated, high-end clientele, which elevates perception of all your work. Even if the big piece doesn’t sell at the show, it’s working hard to bring people in and establish your professional credibility.

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Asked by an artist planning their art fair booth · Answered by Bob Gherardi and Patrick Shanahan · art-marketing-podcast · 2024-11-14