5 Art World Secrets Every Collector Should Know

Contacting an artist before a show or fair can also help place you in a good position to purchase their work during—or even before—the event.

An art gallery is not a standard store. The supply is more restricted, and galleries can be far more discerning about who gets to purchase an artwork. Dealers keep lists of collectors to whom new artworks may be offered when they are ready for sale. They maintain waitlists in case those with first dibs decline the offer.

These waitlists “can be a to... See more