The Artist's Roadmap cuts through the mythology of the art world to address what professional practice actually demands — from approaching galleries and securing representation to the unglamorous mechanics of tax, shipping, and insurance.
About This Book
Written by the founders of Delphian Gallery, an artist-run nomadic gallery and arts platform, this book maps the contemporary art world with uncommon candour. Where most career guides retreat into vague encouragement, this one enters the curator's office and the commercial back-end of artistic practice — the spaces early-career artists rarely see. It speaks directly to the realities obscured by press releases and marketable mystique: how representation works, what galleries expect, and how to build a sustainable artistic business. For emerging artists navigating an industry with no fixed path, it functions as both practical manual and frank professional primer.
Key Features
- 208 pages of practical guidance on contemporary art world navigation, gallery relations, and artistic business fundamentals
- Authored by Benjamin Murphy and Nick JS Thompson, founders of Delphian Gallery
- Published by Thames & Hudson, ISBN: 9780500298398
What You'll Discover
- How to approach galleries and understand the mechanics of artist representation in the current market
- The commercial realities of an artistic career — tax obligations, shipping logistics, and insurance considerations
- What happens behind exhibitions and inside curatorial offices, demystifying institutional decision-making for emerging artists
- How to position yourself for rare career-defining opportunities while developing the tools to forge an independent path
About the Author
Benjamin Murphy and Nick JS Thompson are the founders of Delphian Gallery, an artist-run nomadic gallery and arts platform. Their direct experience operating within the contemporary art world informs the book's grounded, commercially literate perspective on professional artistic practice.
Specifications
- Format: Softcover
- Pages: 208
- Dimensions: 179 x 110 mm
- Language: English
- ISBN: 9780500298398
- Publisher: Thames & Hudson
- Publication Date: [Details available upon request]
Perfect For: Early-career artists, art students, and graduates preparing to engage with galleries, representation, and the commercial realities of a professional art practice.