What should I say when I contact a gallery and when will I hear back?

This article will walk you through what to say when contacting a gallery.

In order to contact a gallery on Artsy, you’ll need to be logged in to your Artsy account. If you haven’t yet signed up for Artsy, please see our article on how to create an account.

Contacting galleries on Artsy is easy, but you’ll want to make sure your conversation doesn’t get lost in the mix. If you’re unsure of what to say, we recommend following these steps: 

1. Introduce yourself. Galleries want to make sure their works find a good home, so share a bit about your collection or interest in the artist. (Sharing this information might help you score a special discount.)
2. Ask your questions upfront to move the conversation along. For example, ask about the condition or shipping price in your first message to the gallery.
3. Follow up if needed. If the gallery doesn’t respond within 7 days, let our team know at support@artsy.net. We’ll follow up on your behalf.

If you see the option to “Make Offer” in your Conversations tab, this means the work is available for secure checkout via Make Offer in Inquiry. To continue, click the “Make Offer” button and enter your suggested price. You’ll be prompted to submit your offer to the gallery, followed by a checkout flow that asks for your payment and shipping details.

Tip from Artsy Specialist: Check out our guide How to Make a Successful Offer Using Artsy’s ‘Make Offer’ Options to boost your offer’s chances of being accepted.

If you’re using Artsy app, read our guide How to Inquire on an Artwork through Artsy’s Mobile App to learn more about our app’s enhanced inquiries system.

Learn more about How Art Collectors Can Avoid Online Phishing Scams and Social Engineering.

When to expect a reply: 

Galleries will generally respond within 1 week. If you reach out during weekends, holidays, or major art fairs, they might take an extra day to get back to you. 

If you don’t hear back within the expected window, we recommend following up with the gallery directly via your Conversations Inbox, which is accessible through the envelope icon in the top right corner of artsy.net or on Artsy’s mobile app. 

If you’ve made an offer via Inquiries, the gallery will respond by either accepting your offer or submitting a counteroffer within 72 hours.