Collecting
Why an original costs what it costs
The artist sets the price. Here is what sits on top of it, and why.
By Aji Nayar ·
2 August 2026 ·
1 min read
A creator decides what their work is worth, and AARTY pays that in full when it sells. What the buyer pays on top of that covers two things: the value the studio added, and the studio's margin.
The value addition is itemised because it is real work — stretching, sealing, framing, hand-finishing, and photographing the piece properly in controlled light. A painting that arrives ready to hang has had days of someone's attention after the artist put the brush down.
The margin is how the gallery exists: the wall, the insurance, the crating, the person who answers your questions, and the market that a maker in Thrissur could not reach alone. It is not a mark-up on a maker's labour. The maker's number is untouched.