What artists need to know about art law

What should artists consider when entering contracts, whether with galleries, museums or other parties? What recourse does an artist have if they find themselves in dispute with a gallery? Are artists sufficiently clued up about their intellectual property rights? Where can artists find independent advice beyond their galleries?

In the final episode of Apollo and Charles Russell Speechlys’ art law series, Rebecca Davies, Michael Craig-Martin and Tim Maxwell explore how artists might best navigate the complex interaction between the cultural and commercial obligations that are often put on them. Moderated by Thomas Marks, the panel discusses potential pitfalls for artists in terms of their legal obligations, and how they can get good independent advice on their careers, both legally and strategically.

About the speakers:

Rebecca Davies is a founding partner in Southern & Partners, an artist management agency started in 2020 with colleagues Graham Southern, Stephanie Camu and Jess Fletcher. Working with contemporary artists and artist estates, they use their combined experience to create opportunities and advance long-term goals.

Rebecca has over 20 years’ experience in the art world spanning the commercial gallery world, auction houses, art fairs and trade associations. She began her career at Christie’s in New York in 1997. She has held senior management roles at international galleries Haunch of Venison, Blain|Southern and Marian Goodman Gallery.

In 2014 Rebecca became Chief Executive of LAPADA, the UK’s largest trade association for art and antique dealers, leading the organisation through major digital transformation and marketing projects. As the representative for LAPADA, she also held the post of Treasurer for the British Art Market Federation (BAMF). Rebecca holds an MA in History of Art from the Courtauld Institute and a BA from the University of Virginia.

Photo: © Caroline True (www.carolinetrue.com); courtesy Gagosian

Michael Craig–Martin is a leading conceptual artist who was born in Ireland, grew up in the United States and has lived in the UK since 1996. He has had exhibitions and installations at museums all over the world, including the Centre Pompidou in Paris and MoMA in New York. There have been retrospectives of his work at the Whitechapel Art Gallery, the Irish Museum of Modern Art and, most recently, at the Serpentine Gallery in London. He has been a Royal Academician since 2006 and was received a knighthood for services to art in 2016.