CODAworx maintains a database of more than 7,000 published projects, including many specific to abstract sculpture. A review of entries provides insight into those factors that may influence the commission fees for these projects.

Architects, real estate developers and site planners responsible for public and commercial construction projects often consider inclusion of large-scale sculpture that will enhance the environment of a space. The commissioning of abstract sculpture, especially those that welcome interaction by viewers, is becoming increasingly popular, as evidenced by the many published projects occurring in the CODAworx database. A review of 70 abstract sculptures suggest that a variety of factors contribute to the determination of commission fees associated with those sculptures. These include size, artistic medium, technology, collaboration requirements and the commission history of artists capable of completing the prescribed work. 

Size

The size of a proposed installation contributes to the overall commission fee. Projects with one dimension greater than 30 feet typically commanded the highest commission fees. Fees reported for these very large projects ranged from $150,000 to $1.6 million. Examples at the low end of this spectrum include Zephyr (Kelowna, Canada) at $160,000, Fountain (Lubbock, TX) at $197,000, Aspire (Aurora, CO) at $410,00 and Mountain Range and River of Light (Walnut Creek, CA) at $739,000. Very large projects with commission fees greater than $1million include Moving Surfaces in Ottawa, Canada ($1.6 million), Light Showers at Waterfront Toronto, Canada ($1.5 million) and Bouyant at Redmond, CA ($1.2 million).

Medium and Technical Enhancements

A developing trend in abstract sculpture is the addition of new technologies such as LED lighting and artificial intelligence that can transform an art installation into an interactive experience through direct participation and narrative storytelling. User-centered design in large-scale art installations results in projects with significant commission fees. 

For example, the previously referenced Moving Surfaces, with a commission fee of $1.6 million, is an organic, fluid form reminiscent of the flow of water inspired by the adjacent Rideau Canal. LEDs integrated into the face of the sculpture provide a dynamic, transformative surface for ongoing, changing content by other artists in the future. Emergent, with a $325,000 commission fee and located in Calgary, Canada, incorporates wood, polished stainless steel, glass and LEDs. Potenza in Denver, CO is a wall of layered glass activated by color-shifting banks of LED lights. Layers of textured glass, held together by dichroic stand-offs, are illuminated by the programmed lights. The commission fee was $280,000.

Installations utilizing a single medium typically offer commission fees in the mid-range of the abstract sculpture database. Steel sculptures typically have higher commission fees than sculptures in only ceramic or stainless steel. For example, Leaf TsingHua is a large steel sculpture located in Hsinchu, Taiwan with a commission fee of $620,000. Transit Story in Toronto, Canada is a series of 30 steel sculptures with a commission fee of $214,000. Nau Mai Ki Toku Ahuru Mowai, in Nelson, New Zealand is a steel sculpture with a commission fee of $200,000. Pampol, in Barcelona, Spain uses only steel and had a commission fee of $172,400.

Projects using only stainless steel had commission fees ranging from $5,500 (Up Knot, Southbury, CT) to $150,000 (Spirit of Steveston, Richmond, Canada). Projects utilizing only bronze had commission fees ranging from $8,000 (Yin Yang, Valhalla, NY) to $75,000 (Sundial Dolphins, St. Petersburg, FL). Ceramic sculptures netted commission fees ranging from $7,000 (Laurel Column, St. Louis, MO) to $50,000 (Portola Valley Garden, Palo Alto, CA).

Collaboration

Projects that require extensive collaboration among the artists, fabricators, public agency representatives and others result in higher commission budgets. This often occurs for works in public spaces, institutions and transportation where frequent and complicated interactions must occur to coordinate construction, installation and approval requirements. Public and private authorities such as planning departments, civil engineers, utilities specialists, engineers, water mechanical specialists and lighting designers may all require input, both in terms of design advice and technical specifications. The previously highlighted project Light Showers, with a commission fee of $1.5 million, is an example of a high collaboration installation. Furthermore, projects requiring interpretive storytelling panels to convey historical significance calls for additional collaboration, resulting in higher commission fees. An example is the previously mentioned 9/11 Memorial, with a commission fee of $1.million. This project was created with salvaged steel beams from the World Trade Center and custom designed glass panels, laminated with printed vinyl inner layers and lists the names of the victims.

History of Artist’s Commission Fees

Not surprisingly, an apparent determining factor for which artist is selected for a commission is a similar history of demonstrated success in the price range. Commissioners with large budgets for major projects often look for artists who have experience creating other large-scale projects.  As a result, artists who receive commissions for $1 million appear to continue to receive similarly priced commissions. The same occurs for those who have received commissions in the range $100,000 to $150,000 and in the $50,000 to $95,000 range, etc. Track records are predictive of future commission fees.

Publish Your Projects

CODAworx is a leading authority on commissioned art and we maintain a comprehensive database of information regarding RFPs, commissioning entities, budgets, and awards. Tapping into this database enables CODAweekly to also feature regular Industry Reports by design segment (commercial, hospitality, healthcare, etc.) that will highlight top artists, trends in commission fees, and more.

We encourage you to add information to the CODAworx database by publishing a project to our Project Library. Anyone involved in the collaborative process can publish a project on CODAworx. This includes the artist and creative teams, design professionals and other commissioners, and industry resources including fabricators, engineers, installers, lighting designers, videographers, and more.

The more information we know about our industry, the smarter we can work and create! Contribute to the knowledge base. Potential clients, commissioners, collaborators and your peers will get to know you and your work. They can contact you directly through the CODAworx messaging system.