Art agents are art industry professionals who act as intermediaries between galleries, private collections, artists, auction houses, museums, and art collectors. Some art agents specialize in representing artists, and are referred to as artist agents, while others prefer to work with people who want to buy or sell art. Working as an art agent can be both challenging and rewarding.
People usually begin their careers as art agents earning degrees in art history or a related field and working in an art gallery, museum, auction house, or other similar establishment. They require this experience to gain firsthand knowledge of the art world as well as to establish connections, as success as an art agent is heavily reliant on relationships. Art agents must be well-versed in the short- and long-term art markets, as well as the history of art, current artists, and a variety of other aspects of the industry. These abilities can be learned, but the final skill of an art agent, having a good eye, is more innate.
Many agents begin their careers as employees of large agencies, galleries, and other art institutions. This work experience allows agents to hone their skills before launching their own businesses or working as freelancers.
Art agents usually specialize in certain types of art or periods of art, such as Modern Art, sculpture, Renaissance Art, Japanese Art, block printing, and so on. While some people have a broader range of knowledge, highly qualified specialists are valued more because of their depth of knowledge. Art agents gain their knowledge studying a variety of works of art, studying the history of the period they are interested in, and learning about the process of creating art, from how paints are made to forgery techniques.
When an art agent serves as an artist’s agent, he or she assists a client in moving forward in the art world. The agent networks with people who are interested in buying an artist’s work and works with galleries to provide show opportunities. Art agents are in charge of finding a market for their clients’ work as well as developing their clients professionally so that they have a better chance of succeeding.
Art agents look at objects for sale all over the world, provide assessments for their clients, and handle complex tasks like the sale of entire collections or the verification of an item’s provenance. These art agents, like artist agents, work on commission, which can be paid in cash, stock options, or trade in art.