10.1: Loans and Commissions

The Ins and Outs
Read by Mon Nov 03,
Reading Response due Wed Nov 05,
Anish Kapoor, Cloud Gate, 2006, Chicago

Anish Kapoor (1954–)
Cloud Gate, 2006
Chicago

Why?

Ocassionally you will loan your work for an expectation (which is different then placing it on consignment). There is not expectation of sales. This is typically done for museum or non-profit exhibitions. In addition, another option for your work is that someone may commission you to make work—paying you prior to the work being made. This chapter outlines considerations for these two paths.

Required

Loans and Commissions, Art/Work

Pages 274–285

Response Questions

Select one question below to which you will respond. Remember to cite specific instances from the text to support your views.

  • What most surprised you in this reading set and why?
  • When accepting money up front, there are some potential snags: the buyer wants more creative control, what if they want to back out of the agreement, what if you want to back out of the agreement. How might you navigate some of these scenarios. Remember to make reference to the readings.

Supplementary Readings

These are optional readings to help enrich your understanding of the themes of this reading set.

Commissions
Ask the Art Professor: How do Artists Handle Commissions?, HuffPost

“Artists are usually excited to get a commission, but most are not prepared for how dicey commissions can be. Commissioned artwork can be anything: a portrait, a wedding gift, artwork for a hotel, etc. Unfortunately, there are no universal rules for art commissions. Consequently, many clients take advantage of artists, so follow these guidelines to protect yourself.”