[1] There is debate as to whether galleries that ask artists to contribute to expenses, e.g. by arranging for announcements of the exhibition themselves, fall into the same category.
[3] In 1981, Village Voice reporter Lisa Gubernick posed as an artist and "within 20 minutes" of contacting the Keane Mason Woman Art Gallery was handed a contract for "$720 for 16 feet of wall".
"[5] Commercial art galleries derive their profit from sales of artwork and therefore take great care to select art and artists that they believe will sell and will enhance their gallery's reputation.
If the artwork sells, the gallery makes a profit, and the artist is then paid.
[citation needed] Vanity galleries have no incentive to sell art, as they have already been paid by the artist.