For Artists

Artists deserve clearer payment standards

When an artwork sells through a gallery, artists should know when it sold, what it sold for, what commission was deducted and when payment will be made.

ArtistSafe is building a fair payment standard for artist-gallery sales, beginning with a free artist register, public advocacy and gallery fair practice accreditation.

What the register is

The ArtistSafe Register is free for artists.

By joining, you are adding your voice to a growing movement for clearer consignment terms, transparent sale reporting and fairer payment standards across the art market.

You will also be invited to share your experience through our Artist Payment Transparency Survey, helping us build a clearer picture of how artists are currently paid after gallery sales.

The ArtistSafe principles

Artists should have:

  • clear consignment terms before work is placed with a gallery

  • written confirmation of commission rates

  • prompt notification when a work sells

  • transparent sale and payment records

  • payment within an agreed timeframe

  • clarity around discounts, VAT, shipping and insurance

  • fair treatment when unsold work is returned

Help shape protected checkout

ArtistSafe is exploring a future protected checkout tool for art sales.

The aim is to create a payment process that gives artists, galleries and collectors clearer records of each sale, including the artwork price, commission breakdown and expected artist payment.

Put simply:
1. Client buys your art via a gallery

2. Payment is split automatically at source between you, the gallery and the ArtistSafe platform

3. you receive your payment and the gallery receives their commission.

You are automatically notified of the sale and details by ArtistSafe once the sale is complete.

No delays. No chasing. Full transparency.

Artists who join the register can choose to be considered for the protected checkout beta.