Art in the workplace: landing a corporate commission

01Understanding what the corporation is looking for

A company buying art does not have the same motivations as a private collector. It seeks to create an atmosphere, convey values, impress visitors, or improve employee wellbeing. The artistic director of the Le Royal Monceau hotel in Paris integrated works by contemporary artists into every room and common area, making art a central element of the guest experience.

The Accor group, across its various brands, regularly purchases works for its properties. The offices of the Fondation Cartier in Paris, designed by Jean Nouvel, display contemporary artworks that form an integral part of the space's identity. These examples demonstrate that corporate art is not a decorative gadget: it is a strategic choice responding to precise objectives.

For you, this means adapting your discourse. The private collector wants an emotional connection with the work. The corporation wants to know how the work integrates with its space, its brand image, the functionality of the location. Learn to speak both languages.

02Specialised intermediaries

The corporate art market often operates through specialised intermediaries: corporate art consultants, interior architects, decorators. These professionals receive a brief from their client, select artists, and propose suitable works. Being in these intermediaries' address books is a major asset.

The company Artpoint, based in London, advises corporations on acquiring artworks for their professional spaces. Similar structures exist in France, such as Art Artisan or independent consultants who work with architecture firms. Identifying these players in your region and sending them a tailored portfolio is a concrete step that can lead to commissions.

The interior architect is a particularly valuable ally. When an architecture firm designs a hotel, restaurant, or corporate headquarters, it often includes an art budget in the overall project. If you are referenced by an interior architect, you can be proposed for projects you would never have accessed on your own.

03Preparing a corporate portfolio

Your artist portfolio, the one you show to galleries and collectors, is not necessarily suited to the corporate market. For this market, you need a portfolio showing your works in situ: in an office, a reception hall, a corridor, a restaurant. If you do not yet have photographs of your works in professional spaces, you can create credible digital mockups or photograph your pieces in neutral environments that evoke the professional world.

French artist Xavier Veilhan, whose monumental sculptures are present in numerous public and corporate spaces, always presents his works in their architectural context. This contextual presentation allows the commissioner to project themselves immediately and understand how the work will dialogue with their space.

Your corporate portfolio should also mention the constraints you are capable of managing: large formats, bespoke commissions, delivery timelines, on-site installation. The corporation is not merely looking for a talented artist: it is looking for a reliable professional who will deliver on time and respect the brief.

04The bespoke commission: a practical guide

The corporate commission is often a bespoke one. The company wants a specific work for a specific space, with constraints regarding dimensions, colour palette, theme, or atmosphere. Accepting this type of commission does not mean abandoning your artistic vision: it means adapting it to a given context.

Danish artist Olafur Eliasson has completed major corporate commissions, notably for Bloomberg's London headquarters, where his light installation transforms the experience of the workspace. These commissions are not artistic compromises: they are projects where the artist's vision responds to a specific spatial and human need.

To manage a corporate commission, you must master the following process: site visit, discussion with the commissioner to understand their expectations, proposal of two or three sketches, project validation, execution, delivery, and installation. Each stage should be documented in writing, with a detailed quote and a precise timeline. The professionalism of your project management is as important as the quality of your work.

05Setting your prices for the corporate market

The price of a work destined for a corporate space is not necessarily the same as one destined for a private collector. Several factors come into play. If the company commissions a bespoke work, the price must incorporate design time, validation back-and-forth, specific materials, and installation. If it purchases an existing work, the price is that of your standard price list, possibly increased for additional services such as installation and framing.

British artist Damien Hirst, whose works decorate numerous corporate spaces worldwide, charges for his commissions by integrating all production, transport, and installation costs. This all-inclusive pricing model is what corporations prefer: a global price covering the entire project with no surprises.

Do not forget the tax question. In France, companies purchasing works by living artists benefit from a tax advantage under article 238 bis AB of the General Tax Code, which allows the acquisition price to be deducted from taxable income over five years. This information is a powerful sales argument you should know and master.

06Prospecting actively

The corporate market will not come to you spontaneously. You must prospect it. Identify in your city hotels that have recently opened or been renovated, new coworking spaces, law firms that are relocating, restaurants undergoing redecoration. Each of these events creates an art need you can fill.

American artist Sarah Sze, whose complex installations have been shown at the Venice Biennale and in the world's greatest museums, has also completed commissions for corporate and public spaces. Her ability to respond to precise briefs while maintaining a strong artistic vision has opened considerable opportunities.

Prepare a standard prospecting email: a brief introduction, three strong images, a link to your corporate portfolio, and a meeting proposal. Send this email to communications directors, artistic directors, and facilities managers at the companies you have identified. A response rate of five per cent would already be excellent.

07Maintaining corporate relationships

A successful corporate commission can generate others. A satisfied company will recommend you to its partners. The interior architect who worked with you will propose you for other projects. The corporate network operates through recommendation, and every well-executed project is an investment in the next ones.

Spanish artist Jaume Plensa, whose monumental sculptures are present in cities and corporate spaces worldwide, built part of his career on the reputation gained through each public and private commission. Each successful installation generated invitations for further projects, creating a virtuous circle of commissions.

After every corporate project, request permission to photograph the work in situ for your portfolio. Send a thank-you message to the commissioner. Propose a six-month follow-up to check that the installation is in good condition. These professional gestures build a reputation that extends beyond your artistic talent alone.

On Artedusa, your artist profile is visible to corporations as well as to private collectors. By demonstrating your ability to complete projects suited to professional spaces, you considerably expand your potential market. Present your work to decision-makers at artedusa.com.