The Artist's Side of the Table: What Consignment Actually Means

Most artists' first contract is also their most confusing one. "Consignment" sounds simple — the gallery holds the work, the gallery sells the work — but the details inside that arrangement determine whether the relationship is fair.

At LOTUS, our consignment agreements are built on a simple principle: the artist should never carry the financial risk of unsold work. We hold pieces for a defined term, payment is settled within 30 days of a confirmed sale, and pricing decisions are made together, not imposed.

We tell every artist we work with the same thing before they sign anything: read the term length, read the payment window, read who's responsible for the work if it's damaged in transit or storage.

A good consignment contract protects both sides. A bad one only looks like it does.