@herschelshapiro · Herschel Shapiro
Saved 2026-05-15 · Posted 2026-04-23 · Status: New
Every artist makes this choice eventually. A lot of them pay to be in the gallery system because it's how you get seen.
But galleries reward work that's easy to place and easy to sell. And it costs a ton to participate. The gallery's cut, the travel, the deadlines to produce for shows. All that pressure ends up shaping the work itself, before it's even finished.
I'd rather put most of that money into innovation. Into R&D, new techniques, new materials, new ways of building. The kind of stuff that takes time to figure out and doesn't happen on a show calendar.
And innovation is what travels now. Genuinely remarkable work finds its audience on its own, and it doesn't require a gallery to work.
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Comments (15)
Wtf you mean galleries take 50%?!
How could materials possibly be $20,000???
A tree died for that ??? Couldn't you do it in a different material ? Might be cheaper as well
Who also thought he wanted to sell one single leaf for 10k at first? 😅
Yes and then if you can mass produce and sell enough to make any money the love for the works diminishes and you blink and someone has copied and undercut your efforts and your sales go on an inevitable divebomb they never recover from
$5000 to travel to an event? 🤔
I think your undervalued at $10k. Raise the floor! Beautiful work as always.
💯 agree. I have never really worked with galleries but I sell a lot of work. The internet has removed the need for them for many artists.
Omg, i thought each of those little leaves were going to be 10k each!!! I was thinking: "dawg..... that;s insane" BUT the finished piece is 100% worth 10k, Great job!!!!
Wtf materials are u buying for 20k?! Let's be realistic. I'm a painter and sell my work plenty. Unless ur doing specialty fabric or some insane wood, idk how ur spending 20 k on materials
Is 50% normal?
@herschelshapiro you’re doing great on you’re own - (commercial galleries are generally pyramid schemes! 😭)
… and, I say that intentionally or unintentionally - and for all the hidden costs and ways of operation that you described.
This is so amazing the work and the dedication to such a unique piece of Art! I and I really
Like the Style and this easy
Love your work man❤️
What you share is soooo AMAZINGINGLY true reasearch and development indeed!!
but I have more questions let’s communicate on DM🙌
100% As soon as you begin to factor all of the compromises and costs you face, you realise you’re just a freelance tradesperson pandering to the middle man.