How long does it sometimes take to make a sale to a collector?

Sometimes it takes fifteen years or more. One artist sold an $18,000 piece to collectors who had been following her work for fifteen years without ever making contact. They had seen her work at shows, galleries, and exhibits over all those years. When they finally bought, the trust was already there—they were comfortable giving her a significant amount of money because of that long-term exposure. This is why consistent marketing and regular exhibition of your work matters. You’re building relationships and trust over years, even with people you’ve never met or heard from.

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Asked by an artist wondering about sales timelines · Answered by Lindy Severns and Patrick Shanahan · art-marketing-podcast · 2025-02-07