What is a artwork sale agreement?
A sale of art is a sale of a physical object, but buyers often assume more: that they can make prints of it, that the seller covers damage in transit whoever shipped it, or that the sale settles authenticity once and for all. An artwork sale agreement sets out what the buyer is getting and who carries which risk.
This template works for an artist selling their own work and for a collector selling a work by someone else, with the ownership and authenticity statements adjusted for each. It records the artist, title, medium, size and year, the condition, optional provenance and whether a certificate of authenticity comes with it. It sets the price, payment in full, by deposit or by instalments, and passes ownership on full payment. It covers collection, personal delivery or shipping, who pays for crating and transit insurance, when risk passes, and a deadline to report damage. It keeps copyright with the artist, lists what the buyer may and may not do with images, adds an optional credit line, protects against alteration, and offers resale terms, noting resale royalty rights where they exist.
- Best for
- Artists selling direct, private collectors and small galleries
- Signed by
- The seller and the buyer
- Copyright
- Stays with the artist; the buyer owns the physical work
- Length
- 2 pages, initialled on every page, signatures on the last page
When to use a artwork sale agreement
- An artist selling a painting from the studio to a collector
- A collector selling a work by another artist to a private buyer
- Selling a sculpture with shipping by a fine art shipper
- A sale paid in instalments with the work released on final payment
- An artist selling at an open studio with delivery after the show
What you fill in
25 blanks, then the name and email of each person who signs: seller, buyer.
1 The parties
- Date of the agreement*
- Seller*
- The Seller is* the artist who created the work · a collector or owner selling a work by another artist
- Seller phone or email*
- Buyer*
- Buyer phone or email*
2 The artwork
- Artist*
- Title*
- Medium, size, year and edition*
- Condition*
- Provenance (optional)
- Certificate of authenticity* will be provided with the work · is not provided
3 Price and payment
- Currency*
- Price*
- Payment* in full before delivery · a deposit on signing and the balance before delivery · in instalments as listed below
- Deposit (optional)
- Instalment dates and amounts (optional)
4 Delivery
- Delivery* collected by the Buyer from the Seller · delivered by the Seller in person · shipped by the Seller to the Buyer's address · shipped by a fine art shipper the Buyer chooses
- Delivery address (optional)
- Delivery or collection by
- Shipping, crating and transit insurance* paid by the Buyer in addition to the price · included in the price · not applicable (collection)
- Days to report damage on arrival*
5 Artist's rights
- Credit line when shown (optional)
- Resale terms* no special resale terms · the Buyer will tell the artist of any resale and the new owner's name if the new owner agrees · the Buyer will offer the artist the first chance to buy the work back before selling it
- Governing law*
6 Who signs
- Seller signature and date, initials on every page · The artist or collector selling the work.
- Buyer signature and date, initials on every page · The person or business buying the work.
What the artwork sale agreement covers
- The Artwork
- Ownership and authenticity
- Condition
- Price and payment
- Delivery and insurance in transit
- Copyright and credit
- Resale
- General
Using the artwork sale agreement, step by step
1 Say who is selling
Choose whether you are the artist or a collector selling another artist's work. The ownership and authenticity wording changes to match.
2 Describe the artwork
Enter the artist, title, medium, size, year and edition, the condition, optional provenance and whether a certificate of authenticity is included.
3 Set price and delivery
Enter the price and payment option, any deposit or instalments, how it is delivered, who pays for shipping and insurance, and the damage reporting period.
4 Credit, resale and send
Add an optional credit line, choose the resale terms and governing law, and send it to the buyer to sign.
Tips before you send it
- Photograph the work before it is packed. It helps with any transit damage claim.
- Describe condition honestly, including past restoration. The buyer accepts the work in the condition you write.
- Issue a certificate of authenticity with the work. FileIt has a separate template for it.
- Some countries give artists a share of the price on later resales. The agreement notes that such rights apply whatever it says.
Sign it online in minutes
- Fill in the blanks. Names, dates and amounts go straight into the agreement — the preview shows exactly where.
- Name who signs. Tick “This is me” for your own part. FileIt builds the PDF with every signature, date and initials box on the right line, and you can check or move anything before sending.
- Send it. Each signer gets a secure link and signs from any device — no account needed. The signed PDF, with an audit trail and a Certificate of Completion, is filed in your vault and emailed to everyone.
Artwork sale agreement: frequently asked questions
Does the buyer get the copyright?
No. The buyer owns the physical artwork. Copyright stays with the artist or rights holder, and the buyer can't make prints or use images commercially without permission.
Who is responsible if the work is damaged in shipping?
If the seller ships or delivers the work, it bears the risk until delivery, and when it ships, it insures the work for at least the price. If the buyer collects or chooses its own shipper, risk passes on handover.
When does the buyer own the artwork?
When the full price is paid. The seller may keep the work until then, including under an instalment plan.
Can a collector use this to sell a work by another artist?
Yes. Choose the collector option. The seller then shares what it knows about history and attribution, and the buyer may get its own expert opinion before paying.
Can it be signed electronically?
Yes. E-signatures are generally valid for sales of goods like artwork in the US, UK, EU and Canada. FileIt keeps an audit trail with the signed PDF.