"Never buy my work sight unseen, unless from a dealer who has a current working relationship with the Wilkinson Sculpture Studio."                                                                                 -- Michael Wilkinson

As a collector, or potential collector, you should be aware of some of what goes on behind the scenes of art sales, and how your choices can affect your favorite galleries and artists -- and the quality of art you purchase.

Art sales used to be very straightforward for everyone.  The artist created the art.  The gallery displayed and sold the work, cultivated relationships with collectors, and in most cases represented the artist’s best interests.  The collector had a relationship with one or more galleries, whose expertise could be relied upon.

The internet has changed that.  Today some galleries have no storefront presence at all.  Instead, they have set themselves up as e-galleries.  Via the internet, they buy and sell art on the secondary (resale) market.   Without permission, they illegally post artists' copyrighted photos on their websites and they rely on the public seeing the art in person in storefront galleries.  These e-galleries often advertise super low prices, even when they don’t have the work to sell.  Then when they have a buyer, they will try to find a piece to sell them.  (I have had calls from these individuals, offering to buy work from me so they could make sales.  I have refused to deal with them.)  Despite their low selling prices, these internet dealers are able to make a profit because they don’t have the overhead of a walk-in art gallery.  All they need is a computer and a telephone, while the galleries that display my art have the responsibility of rents, payrolls and inventory, etc.  The advertising and sales of my art by internet galleries puts my authorized galleries in a terrible position, because it gives the public the impression that my work, as displayed in galleries, can be had at very steep discounts.

I don’t deal with e-galleries.  I have always believed that before buying, you should be able to see my art beautifully displayed and knowledgeably presented, which is why I work only with dealers I select and authorize myself.  

Many collectors today behave like savvy shoppers -- they go to see the work at a storefront gallery and then shop the internet to try to get the best price possible.  As tempting as it is to shop by price alone, I do not think this ultimately serves the collector of art.  Although collectors may find lower prices on the internet, the issues of quality, provenance and condition are often problematic.  I recommend that you never purchase my work sight unseen unless it comes from an authorized dealer.*  To insure quality, I personally inspect each sculpture sold by an authorized gallery before it is shipped from the casting facility to the collector.

*One of many examples is the buyer who had been working with an authorized gallery, but instead chose to purchase an acrylic sculpture over the internet.  When he received the sculpture in damaged condition, the buyer approached the authorized dealer for help, but was told there was nothing to be done.  If the buyer had dealt with the authorized dealer, a damaged work would have been replaced with a pristine sculpture.

My advice to collectors is to develop a relationship with a reputable gallery you can depend on to look out for your interests.

Collectors who purchase from the internet should be aware:

Galleries authorized to exhibit and sell the Michael Wilkinson Collection often have websites where they advertise my work.  However, not all galleries with websites advertising my art are authorized galleries.  Please contact us if you want to verify whether you are dealing with an authorized gallery.  We will be happy to set the record straight.

If you are not dealing with an authorized gallery, you could be purchasing stolen work.  Galleries have experienced a rash of thefts of my work in recent years.  If work you purchase from the  internet is determined to be stolen, you will forfeit the work and the money you paid for it.  Visit the Los Angeles Police Department web page devoted to Wilkinson Sculpture thefts.  L.A.P.D Website

If you are not dealing with an authorized gallery, the condition of the work is at risk.  You could end up with work damaged by heat, improper handling or improper cleaning methods.

Collectors who purchase my work from authorized galleries should know: 

I personally inspect each sculpture ordered by our authorized galleries.

We issue Certificates of Authenticity signed by me for each piece ordered by our authorized galleries. 

Only authorized galleries get work directly from the artist.  When work is purchased from an authorized gallery, it is guaranteed to be delivered to the collector in pristine condition or it will be replaced.  There are many instances of work purchased in "as is condition" from the internet, where the buyer was very disappointed and without remedy. 

We stand behind our authorized galleries, and believe that they do the best job of presenting my work to the public.  You can depend on their service and expertise.

Recommendations to art collectors:

Use the internet for research, and to become familiar with the work of  artists you like.

Develop a relationship with a reputable gallery or art agent.

Never buy my work sight unseen, unless from a dealer who has a current working relationship with the Wilkinson Sculpture Studio.