ARTnews explores the evolving and often ambiguous nature of gallery representation through interviews with artists, dealers, lawyers, and advisers. The article traces British painter Nigel Cooke's journey from his first representation by Stuart Shave/Modern Art in 2002 to his current gallery Pace, and his recent exhibition "Bad Habits" at Fondazione Querini Stampalia in Venice. It highlights the gap between the romantic ideal of a dealer discovering and nurturing an artist's career and the commercial reality of contracts, commissions, and termination clauses.
This matters because gallery representation remains a central aspiration for emerging artists, yet its meaning is rarely examined critically. The piece reveals that even successful artists like Cooke find galleries often lack long-term career roadmaps, and that legal complexities—such as "tails" allowing galleries to earn commissions after an artist leaves—are frequently overlooked. By demystifying the relationship, the article provides essential context for artists navigating the art market and underscores the need for clearer expectations in artist-gallery partnerships.