Embracing independence: meet the artists giving galleries a swerve
A growing number of artists are bypassing traditional galleries to sell their work directly to collectors, a trend that echoes pre-19th-century practices when artists like Michelangelo and Rembrandt dealt directly with patrons. High-profile examples include Damien Hirst's 2008 Sotheby's auction that raised £111.4m without dealer commissions, Banksy's Pest Control system, and Marina Abramović's independent collaborations during Frieze Week and at Glastonbury. Emerging and mid-tier artists, such as Bristol-based Matthew Callaby, are also selling via Instagram and organizing their own pop-up shows, often keeping more profit than the typical 50% gallery commission.