What’s Really Happening in the Texas Art Scene (And How Artists Can Protect Themselves)

I’ve been seeing a lot of conversations online about the art world changing — and honestly, a lot of artists are confused. Some people say galleries are dying. Some say artists are getting taken advantage of. Others say direct sales are the future.

So I wanted to dig into what’s actually going on in Texas, right now, and talk about it in plain English — no fancy art-talk, no guilt, no gatekeeping.

This blog isn’t about “hating galleries.”
It’s about helping artists understand the business, so they can make smart decisions about their own career.

Let’s talk about the real stuff nobody explains.

🌵 First: The Texas art world isn’t dead — but it IS changing.

Texas has a huge creative economy — about $7 billion a year (yes, billion).

But the way art gets sold is shifting. Here’s why:

🎨 1. Galleries are under pressure.

Some Texas galleries struggled during COVID and never fully recovered.
Even the Dallas Art Fair had financial fallout early in the pandemic, and tight budgets hit small and mid-sized galleries the hardest.

🎨 2. More art buyers are online.

People are buying originals and prints directly from the artist on:

• Instagram

• TikTok

• Their websites

• Etsy

• Art marketplaces

That means galleries aren’t the only path anymore.

🎨 3. New, modern art opportunities are growing.

Texas is adding:

• New cultural districts (Austin, Kerrville, and more)

• Grants and public art programs

• Meow Wolf installations hiring Texas artists

• Local collector circles that help artists without taking huge cuts

So the art world isn’t going away.
It’s just widening.
Artists now have choices — and that’s a GOOD thing.

💸 Let’s talk about gallery commissions (the real numbers).

In most of the art world — including Texas — the “normal” gallery split is:

👉 50% to the gallery, 50% to the artist.

Sometimes it’s 60/40.
Sometimes 70/30 (rare, but it happens in high-end places).
Small co-op galleries might be 30/70.

And yes, there are real Texas calls-for-entry that say things like:

• “50% gallery commission on sold work.”

• “$25 entry OR 50% commission.”

These are normal business models, not scams — as long as the gallery is actually doing the work.

A good gallery:

• has real collectors

• knows how to market

• pays on time

• handles shipping, insurance, and setup

• puts your work in front of people you’d never reach alone

A bad gallery:

• charges you

• doesn’t promote

• doesn’t sell

• ties up your work

• pays late

Same commission.
Very different experience.

🧨 Now let’s talk about the part artists need to watch out for: “vanity galleries.”

A “vanity gallery” is a place that makes money off the artists, not off selling art.

Red flags:

• You pay a big fee to show your work.

• They push “exposure” instead of actual sales.

• They don’t show their collector list.

• They pressure newer artists who don’t know better.

Even Texas galleries warn artists about this.
It’s a real issue, and it’s why artists need to do their homework.

This is NOT the same as a real gallery.
A real gallery takes a commission only if the art sells — and earns that commission through real work.

🎪 Art fairs & markets: do artists actually make money?

Sometimes yes.
Sometimes no.
Sometimes artists lose money and don’t realize it until they get home and add up the costs.

Typical Texas booth fees can be:

• $150–$300

• Plus gas

• Plus hotel

• Plus food

• Plus time

And some markets ALSO take a percentage of sales on top of the booth fee.

That means an artist might need to make $1,500–$3,000 just to break even.

Markets aren’t bad — they’re just not automatically profitable.
You have to choose wisely and track your numbers.

🌟 So how are Texas artists actually making money right now?

Here are the REAL trends:

✔ Selling directly (website, Instagram, TikTok)

You keep almost all the money.

✔ Commissions

Personalized work is booming — especially in Texas.

✔ Prints

High margin. Low overhead.

✔ Workshops & teaching

A lot of artists make steady income this way.

✔ Public art & grants

Cities all over Texas are funding murals, sculptures, and public installations.

✔ Select gallery partnerships

Not all galleries are bad.
Some are wonderful partners.
You just have to be picky.

The new reality is this:

👉 Artists survive best when they diversify — not when they hand over everything to one place.

💛 My stance (said in a way that protects my future)

I believe artists should:

• own their work

• understand how money flows

• know their rights

• be smart with contracts

• and choose representation that actually helps them

I’m not anti-gallery.
I’m anti-confusion and anti-exploitation.

If a gallery approaches me one day and wants to show my work because it speaks to them?
Amazing.
I’m open to fair, transparent partnerships that lift everyone up.

Until then, I’ll keep building my own collector base and selling directly — because I believe in artists keeping control of their careers.

And honestly?
That’s the direction the Texas art world is already moving.

🎯 Final quick advice for any artist reading this:

• Never sign a contract you don’t understand.

• Ask for the gallery’s actual buyer list.

• Ask what THEY are doing to earn their commission.

• Avoid any place that charges you big upfront fees.

• Track your costs.

• Know your worth.

• And remember: a gallery should feel like a partner, not a parent.

Because at the end of the day, the art comes from YOU.
The vision comes from YOU.
And the value comes from YOU.

The art world is shifting — and artists finally get to choose what works for them.