To sell an Indigenous dot painting, you need to establish its provenance (history, artist identity, and origin) and choose the right sales channel depending on whether you are the artist or a secondary reseller. [1, 2]
1. Gather Documentation and Provenance
- Certificate of Authenticity: Locate the official certificate or documentation provided when the artwork was first bought. This usually includes the artist’s name, community or art centre, catalogue number, dimensions, and the Dreaming story behind the work. [1, 2, 3]
- Invoices and Labels: Keep original receipts, gallery tags, or stamps on the back of the canvas. These build trust and maximize the resale value. [1, 2]
- Photographs: Take clear photos of the front and back of the painting in good natural light, including close-ups of any signatures or inscriptions. [1]
2. Choose How to Sell
Your options depend on who created the work and its estimated value:
- Through Aboriginal Art Centres: If you are a First Nations artist or working directly with a community-owned art centre (such as those registered with the Indigenous Art Code), they manage production, marketing, and sales, with artists typically receiving a high percentage of the proceeds. [1, 2]
- Commercial Galleries or Private Treaty: For valuable secondary-market pieces, specialized Indigenous art dealers can show the painting to private collectors. This avoids exposing an unsold piece to the public market all at once. [1, 2]
- Auction Houses: Major auction houses (such as Sotheby’s) handle high-value contemporary or historical Aboriginal art, though fees apply and unsold items can sometimes be perceived as less valuable. [1, 2]
- Private Sale: You can sell directly to a private buyer, though you must handle authentication and valuation yourself. [1, 2]
3. Understand Legal and Resale Rules
- Artist Resale Royalty Scheme: In Australia, if you commercially resell an eligible artwork for $1,000 or more (including GST), a 5% royalty applies to the sale price. This is administered by the Copyright Agency to support living First Nations artists. Note that private sales from one individual directly to another do not typically attract this resale royalty. [1, 2]
If you’d like more tailored advice, tell me:
- Are you selling an artwork you own or an artist looking to sell your own work?
- Do you have a Certificate of Authenticity or know the artist’s name?