Buying art in a gallery: how it works
Buying in a gallery means acquiring the work with an invoice in the buyer's name, a signed certificate of authenticity and a full technical sheet, with the price including a gallery commission shared with the artist under their agreement.
gelisted editorial team · Updated 15 August 2026
The short version
- The gallery commission usually runs 40 to 50 per cent.
- The certificate of authenticity must always accompany the work.
- The usual negotiating margin is 5 to 15 per cent.
- Editioned works must state the number and the size of the edition.
Buying art does not require expertise. It requires asking for four documents and three answers, and that avoids 90 per cent of the problems that surface later.
How the price is built
The selling price includes the artist's share and the gallery's commission, usually between 40 and 50 per cent, which covers the space, promotion, mounting exhibitions, the catalogue and the relationship with collectors. For an established artist the price also rests on the record of previous sales, and that record is what supports value over the medium term.
| Document | Content | Importance |
|---|---|---|
| Invoice | buyer and work details | essential |
| Certificate of authenticity | signed by artist or gallery | essential |
| Technical sheet | medium, dimensions, year | high |
| Edition numbering | number and edition size | for editioned work |
| Conservation instructions | light, humidity, mounting | medium |
| Gallery commission | 40 to 50 % | included in the price |
| Negotiating margin | 5 to 15 % | usual |
The three questions
What track record the artist has: exhibitions, collections, prizes, publications. Whether the work is unique or part of an edition and of how many. And what buy back or exchange policy the gallery offers, which is common in the trade and says a good deal about its confidence in what it sells. Specific answers are a good sign; vague ones are a reason to take more time.
Negotiating
It happens and it is normal, with margins usually running 5 to 15 per cent, and more on multiple purchases or for repeat clients. Asking naturally offends nobody. What does not work is negotiating the price of a work you have not seen in person, because scale, texture and behaviour under light change the impression entirely against a photograph.
Many galleries will let a work go home for a few days so it can be seen in place before a decision.
After buying
Keep the invoice and certificate together and digitised, since they establish ownership and provenance. Photograph the work front and back, including any label. Check the mounting requirements: direct sunlight degrades pigments and paper, and on an island with high radiation that is not a theoretical point. And consider adding it to the home insurance above a certain value, with a valuation if needed.
Frequently asked
+What commission does a gallery take?
Usually 40 to 50 per cent of the selling price, already included in the price shown.
+Can the price be negotiated?
Yes, with usual margins of 5 to 15 per cent, more on multiple purchases.
+What documents should I receive?
Invoice in your name, certificate of authenticity, technical sheet and edition numbering if applicable.
+Can I see the work at home first?
Many galleries allow it for a few days, and it is the best way to judge scale and light.
+Should I insure it?
Worth considering above a certain value, adding it to the home policy with a valuation if required.
Sources
- 1Boletín Oficial del Estado, BOE (August 2026)
- 2Govern de les Illes Balears, Govern de les Illes Balears (August 2026)