WHY HIRE AN ART CONSULTANT?
By Lorelle Rau and Hannah Riley
Is hiring an art consultant the right choice for you? If you’re asking yourself this question, you might be wondering what an art consultant does and how they can help. I’m here to share the benefits of hiring an art consultant and what the process looks like.
What does an art consultant do?
Put simply, an art consultant is someone who knows art. They typically represent art buyers and collectors, rather than specific artists, and partner with businesses and individuals to help them purchase artwork for their space. They are there to help make the buying and decision-making process easier. If you have a certain vision for your home or office, art consultants are experts at bringing that vision to life.
While they do maintain relationships with many artists, galleries, museums, and art publishing companies, art consultants are not bound by those restrictions. What this means for you is they are not limited to selling specific artists’ work in the way galleries are. They have the ability to source prints, photographs, original paintings, drawings, sculptures, wall graphics, and more.
Purchasing artwork on your own involves several complicated steps, such as navigating custom artwork commissions, insurance, taxes, framing, delivery, and installation. Art consultants help simplify the process by handling the logistics and walking you through the process from start to finish. By having digestible information at your disposal, you can make decisions with ease, eliminating the stress and energy it requires to purchase art.
What to expect when hiring an art consultant
When hiring an art consultant, they start by getting to know you, your space, and your style. They are experts at matching the artwork to your brand, values, and/or aesthetic. Depending on the project, they may ask to consult floorplans, finishes, paint colors, drawings, or other supporting materials. They know which art compliments your space and put together a proposal of recommendations aligned with your taste. Once you’ve both determined your aesthetic direction, your consultant shares the options they’ve gathered with you.
When it comes to payment, art consultants either take a percentage of the total sale price or charge an hourly fee.The way they charge can depend on the scope of the project but expect them to be up front about their fee. Usually, an art consultant is paid through a commission structure like a gallery. So, you, as a buyer, would pay the same amount purchasing art through a gallery (or directly from the artist).
How can an art consultant help you?
Art consultants cut through the noise and zero in on the artwork that is right for you. They know the art market well, through years of accumulated knowledge, including a network of resources such as art installers, framers, designers, appraisers, museums, dealers, artists, and galleries. Remember, they are the experts. They have collected years of quality art resources and talented artists to have available for you, their client.
When working with an art consultant, they often give you the opportunity to view original artwork in your home or office before purchasing. This way you’re not imagining what something may look like. And yes, delivery and installation are included in the process and managed by the consultant.
In summary, besides excellent customer service, the benefits of hiring an art consultant include:
Custom art plan
Easy access to a wide selection of art
Representation of you (the buyer), not the artist or gallery
Knowledge of the art market & art world connections
Simplification of purchasing process
Why hire an art consultant?
Hiring an art consultant means you’re serious about selecting the best art for your home or office. It means you can expect quality art with proper framing, installation, and continued guidance along the way. It means you have a knowledgeable art partner at your disposal, to leverage contact with them when you have questions, need to change things up, or add more art over time.
For more information on whether or not an art consultant is the right choice for you, we offer free consultations! Please contact us at info@lorelleraustudios.com to chat about your next project!
