When it comes to the art world, a physical gallery makes all the difference.

That is why the Lily Selavie Gallery is now offering representation for artists, both emerging and established. This resource has been set up to help understand artist-gallery representation, what it entails for the consignor (the artist), as well as for the consignee (that would be us!).

By the end of this short article, you should have a fuller picture of what representation is, what form it takes with the LSG, and – if you are a prospective artist looking for partnership, help guide you on whether you want to propose a consignment deal with us.

As of January 17th, 2026, our applications are currently open for consignments. If you are interested in seeing if you meet our criteria, you can contact us using the below links:

Our team will get back to you within 24 hours.

What is representation?

Representation – or an artist-gallery partnership, is a formal (or occasionally informal) contract made between one party and another. Its purpose is to foster a closer artist-gallery relationship, with the two sides engaging in mutual service for the benefit of the other.

The most typical form this contract takes is consignment – an agreement where a consignor (the artist) provides their goods to a consignee (the gallery) for direct sale and marketing. In return, the consignee takes a portion of the commission for the sale, as well as profit-sharing on selected works, in return for professional management and gallery services, free of charge.

There are no upfront or ongoing costs for either party, as the primary revenue model for both parties comes from the co-operation, not exploitation. If you are asked to pay for consignment, you are not signing up for a good deal.

How does this work with the Lily Selavie Gallery?

We take our reputation seriously and know that the art industry is built on the backs of artists. For this reason, we offer two types of representation contracts: nurturing and established.

Nurturing

Nurturing consignment is intended for emerging or otherwise non-established artists. They are less invested, requiring a lower commitment from both parties, and are designed to nurture a new relationship between artist and gallery (hence the name). This comes with common features such as shorter notice periods, less provided works, and a smaller selection of which art sales the gallery earns commission on.

If you want to test the waters with our gallery, this is the perfect option for you and allows a greater deal of flexibility compared to an established contract.

Established

Established contracts are intended for established artists, as well as artists who have ended a nurturing period with us. It is focused on mid-to-long term partnerships, empowering the artist with greater access to our gallery services, in exchange for a more rigid commission. All terms are backed up by industry-standard practices, so you can expect the real deal when it comes to working with British art galleries.

These contracts are approved on a stricter case-by-case basis requiring proven industry experience, or a good relationship with the LSG, to be discussed