How do I approach a gallery about representation?

Galleries receive far more approaches than they can take on, so a well-aimed approach matters more than a wide one. Before you contact anyone - Research fit. Look at the artists a gallery already shows: medium, price range, career stage. A gallery that never shows sculpture is unlikely to start with you. - Visit, go to openings, and get to know how the gallery works. Many representations start with a relationship, not an email. - Have a consistent, recent body of work, typically at least ten to twenty pieces that clearly belong together. When you approach - Follow the gallery's submission guidelines exactly if it publishes them. Some do not accept unsolicited submissions at all; respect that. - Keep the first message short: who you are, why this gallery, a link to your portfolio (your profile here works well), your artist statement, a CV and a price list. - Write to one gallery at a time, by name. Mass emails are easy to spot. If they are interested, talk through the terms before you agree: commission, exclusivity and territory, who pays for framing, shipping and insurance, how quickly you are paid after a sale, and how the agreement can end. Get it in writing. Galleries on this platform can list the artists they represent, and an artist can confirm or decline each listing. Gallerists reading this: what makes an approach stand out to you?