Price Art for Exhibition: How to Set the Right Value for Your Work

When you're ready to show your art in a gallery or public exhibition, one of the hardest questions isn't about technique or composition—it's price art for exhibition, the process of assigning a monetary value to original artwork for public display and sale. Also known as art valuation, it's not just about covering costs—it's about communicating worth in a market that often judges art by price as much as by beauty. Many artists guess, copy others, or lowball out of fear. But galleries don't respond to guesswork. They look for consistency, logic, and proof of market awareness.

Gallery selection criteria, the standards professional galleries use to choose which artists to represent are heavily tied to pricing. If your work is priced too low, they assume you're inexperienced. Too high without proof of sales or demand, and you look out of touch. The sweet spot? A price that reflects your time, materials, and market position. For example, a 16x20 inch oil painting using premium linen and archival pigments might cost $400 in materials and 20 hours of labor. But if similar works by artists with your level of exposure sell for $1,200–$1,800 in regional galleries, that’s your range—not your cost.

Fine art valuation, the systematic assessment of an artwork’s market value based on provenance, medium, size, and exhibition history isn’t magic. It’s built from data. Look at what artists with similar training, exhibition history, and style are charging. Check Etsy trends, local gallery websites, and auction records. Size matters—top oil painting sizes that sell best in 2025, the most commercially successful canvas dimensions preferred by collectors and galleries are typically 16x20, 20x24, and 24x36 inches. Stick to those, and you make it easier for buyers to imagine your piece on their wall.

Don’t ignore the hidden factors. A piece shown in a group exhibition gains value. A signed and numbered certificate adds legitimacy. If you’re new, consider pricing slightly below peers to build a sales record—then raise it after your first three sales. Galleries love artists who understand their own worth and can explain it clearly. They don’t want someone who says, "I just thought $500 felt right." They want someone who says, "My materials cost $320, I spent 35 hours on this, and similar works by artists with my exhibition history sold for $1,400 last quarter."

What you’re really selling isn’t just paint on canvas. You’re selling proof of skill, consistency, and professionalism. That’s why pricing isn’t optional—it’s part of your artistic statement. The right price tells the world you’re serious. And if you’re serious, galleries will take you seriously too.

Below, you’ll find real guides on how galleries pick artists, what sizes sell best, how to price as a beginner, and how to spot a legitimate art print—everything you need to turn your art from a passion project into a professionally valued offering.