Artist Studio Management and Liaison Services for Visual Artists
Mallory Shotwell provides artist studio management and liaison services designed for mid-career and established visual artists working in contemporary art.
It supports visual artists across all aspects of their careers, including exhibition coordination, gallery sales, art fair logistics, public art project management, grant and residency applications, studio operations, inventory systems, institutional partnerships, and collection placement strategy.
Services are tailored to mid-career and established artists navigating the demands of a growing practice. Artists who are balancing production with increased administrative, logistical, and professional responsibilities benefit from structured, high-touch support designed to reduce friction and create clarity.
Service areas include Chicago, Detroit, Milwaukee, and West Michigan. Remote consulting is available to visual artists and arts professionals across the U.S.
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Project-Based Services
Strategy Intensive — $475
Role: Diagnostic and readiness assessment
A structured conversation to figure out why things feel harder than they should and what to fix first.
Purpose
To assess professional positioning, systems readiness, and risk points, and to determine the appropriate level of support.
Best for:
Artists who know how to make work, but do not necessarily have the time or know-how to manage a career. This is for artists who feel busy, scattered, or unsure why opportunities feel stressful instead of exciting. You may be doing a lot, but still feel unclear about what actually matters next. The solution is a clear outside read on your practice and career setup so you know what to focus on, what to stop doing, and what kind of support would actually help.
What you receive:
• 90-minute video consultation
• Pre-session questionnaire covering materials, systems, and goals
• Professional readiness assessment
• Review of workflows, documentation, and opportunity alignment
• Identification of strengths, gaps, and risk points
• 3–5 page written report with prioritized action steps
• Tailored resource list including tools, templates, and references
• One week of email follow-up for clarification questions only
Timeline
• Scheduled within one week of booking
• Written report delivered within three business days
Credit policy
Up to $475 may be credited toward a Systems Audit, Systems Reset, or the first month of a retainer if booked within 30 days.
Project-Based Services
Systems Audit and Alignment — $900
Role: Structural correction and alignment
For artists who already have materials but feel like nothing quite lines up anymore.
Purpose
To bring existing materials and workflows into professional alignment without a full rebuild.
Best for:
Artists who already have a CV, statement, images, and a general process, but feel like everything is slightly out of sync. This is for artists who keep reworking materials for each opportunity or feel unsure whether what they are sending out represents them well. The solution is tightening and aligning what already exists so your materials work together and can be reused with confidence.
What you receive:
• Audit of existing CV, statement, bio, image list, and workflows
• Identification of inconsistencies, gaps, and risk points
• Targeted corrections and refinements to existing materials
• CV restructuring and formatting to professional standards
• Image list cleanup and alignment with current works
• Clear determination of what requires rebuilding versus refinement
• One 60-minute review call
• 2–3 page written action plan outlining next steps
What this does not include
• Full rewrites from scratch
• Inventory or database builds
• Financial systems
• Ongoing administrative support
If foundational systems issues are identified, a Systems Reset will be recommended before further refinement.
Timeline
• Two-week engagement from start to finish
Conversion
This engagement may lead into a Systems Reset or a retainer but does not require either.
Project-Based Services
Systems Reset — $1,500 to $2,200
Role: Full systems rebuild
For artists who are tired of reinventing the wheel every time an opportunity comes in.
Purpose
To rebuild core studio systems that are actively blocking opportunities, creating stress, or causing missed deadlines.
Pricing by volume
• Standard: up to 50 artworks, $1,500
• Medium: 51–150 artworks, $1,800
• Large: 150+ artworks, complex consignments, $2,200
Best for:
Artists who feel blocked from being in the studio because administration takes too much time or energy. This is for artists who dread applications, miss deadlines, or constantly start over because nothing is organized. The solution is building clear, reusable systems so opportunities stop feeling overwhelming and you can return your focus to making work.
What You'll Receive:
Documentation and tracking
• CV restructuring and formatting to professional standards
• Complete artist statement and bio rewrite, including base language and contextual variations
• Image list creation with professional documentation standards
• Exhibition calendar and deadline tracking system
Audit and setup
• Full digital file and archive audit
• Artwork inventory database setup with images and metadata
• Contact database organization for galleries, curators, collectors, and press
• Consignment tracking framework
Financial and workflow systems
• Financial tracking templates for sales, expenses, and consignments
• Invoice template setup
• One 60-minute systems walkthrough
Revision limits
• One primary draft and one revision round per written document
Post-project support
• 30 days of email support for system-related questions only
Individual Artist Retainer Packages
Package A: Practice Stabilization
$1,300 per month
Up to 8 hours per month
Role: Systems administrator and practice organizer
Best for:
Artists who want to spend more time in the studio and less time managing details. This is for artists whose careers are active enough that things pile up, but not so complex that everything needs to be rebuilt. You may already be exhibiting or selling work, but keeping track of materials, deadlines, and logistics pulls you out of the studio. The solution is having someone quietly keep the foundation steady so nothing slips, breaks, or requires constant catching up.
This package does not include researching or applying for new opportunities. It assumes opportunities are already in motion and need support, not generation.
What you’ll receive:
• Maintenance of all systems established in the Systems Reset
• One 60-minute monthly planning session
• Monthly recap email with priorities, deadlines, and action items
• Shared digital task management system
Ongoing support areas
• Artwork inventory updates
• Exhibition and deadline calendar maintenance
• CV, statement, and bio updates for artist-identified opportunities
• Image and documentation updates
• Invoice creation for up to five sales per month
• Drafting of professional email responses for artist approval
• Basic shipping coordination and information handoff
Package B: Practice Acceleration
$1,950 per month
Up to 14 hours per month
Role: Career coordinator and applications manager
Best for:
Artists who want to apply for more opportunities but struggle to keep up with preparation, deadlines, and follow-through. This is for artists who were trained to make work, not to manage submissions, and who feel that applying consistently eats into studio time. The solution is shared planning, research, and execution so opportunities are pursued in a steady, realistic way without burnout or last-minute stress.
This is the first package where opportunity research and applications are actively supported.
What You'll Receive:
Includes everything in Package A, plus:
Planning and coordination
• Two strategy sessions per month
• Bi-weekly check-in emails with shifting priorities tracked
• Centralized task and opportunity management
Career development
• Monthly research and reporting of 3 to 5 aligned opportunities
• Preparation and coordination of 1 to 2 applications or pitches per month
• Customization of materials for submissions
• Deadline tracking and follow-up preparation
• Coordination with active galleries, curators, or institutions
Applications are prepared collaboratively. Final content approval and submission decisions remain with the artist.
Communication management
• Professional inbox support for career-related communications
• Drafting of replies, follow-ups, and scheduling coordination
• Weekly digest highlighting items requiring artist approval
Exhibition and logistics support
• Shipping and insurance coordination
• Press release drafting for confirmed exhibitions
• Coordination of professional exhibition photography
Package C: Practice Partnership
$2,750 per month
Up to 20 hours per month
Role: External studio operations lead and institutional strategist
Best for:
Artists whose practices have grown to the point where handling everything alone makes it hard to think clearly or plan ahead. This is for artists who are exhibiting regularly, juggling correspondence, and navigating multiple relationships at once, but feel stuck reacting instead of shaping direction. The solution is shared operational leadership, so structure, planning, and long-term strategy are handled alongside day-to-day demands.
Opportunity work here shifts from volume to direction and leverage.
What You"ll Receive:
Includes everything in Packages A and B, plus:
Strategic oversight
• Weekly strategy check-ins
• Multi-year career roadmap with quarterly reviews
• Priority response time within one business day
Opportunity research, outreach, and applications
• Monthly research and vetting of 4–6 higher-level aligned opportunities, including RFQs, RFPs, museum or institutional calls, fairs, and exhibitions
• Strategic guidance on which opportunities to apply for versus decline
• Preparation and coordination of up to 2–3 applications, proposals, or RFQ/RFP submissions per month
• Customization of materials and narratives for institutional or high-stakes submissions
• Tracking of submissions, outcomes, and follow-up timelines
Inbox and communication management
• Triage of professional inbox related to exhibitions, applications, commissions, and institutional relationships
• Drafting of high-priority responses for artist approval
• Ongoing tracking of conversations so opportunities do not drop or stall
Institutional strategy
• Relationship tracking across curators, galleries, institutions, and funders
• Commission proposal development support
• Art fair coordination and planning
• Institutional collection placement tracking and documentation
Studio operations
• Budget forecasting and cash flow planning
• Financial system oversight and quarterly reviews
• Hiring and coordination support for studio staff
Package D: Full Practice Management
$4,500 per month
Up to 35 hours per month
Role: Entire Studio Practice Manager
Best for:
Artists who need their own studio manager. This is for artists whose practices involve many moving parts and who feel pulled away from making work by coordination, logistics, and decision fatigue. The solution is handing off operational responsibility so your energy goes toward the studio, creative decisions, and relationships that matter most.
What You'll Receive:
Includes everything in Packages A, B, and C, plus:
Access and responsiveness
• Up to two weekly check-ins as needed
• Same-day response during business hours for time-sensitive matters
• Limited evening or weekend availability for active exhibitions or deadlines only
Opportunity scouting, applications, and pipeline management
• Ongoing research and tracking of 6–10 aligned opportunities per month, including RFQs, RFPs, acquisitions, fairs, and exhibitions
• Strategic planning across short-term and long-cycle opportunities
• Preparation, coordination, and submission of up to 4–6 applications, proposals, or RFQ/RFP responses per month
• Management of deadlines, submission materials, and required documentation
• Tracking of outcomes, reporting, and strategic adjustments over time
Inbox and communication management
• Day-to-day management of professional inbox within defined scope
• Drafting and sending of approved communications on behalf of the artist
• Filtering, prioritization, and escalation of time-sensitive or high-impact correspondence
• Ongoing documentation of communications and relationship history
Business operations
• Oversight of accounts receivable and payable coordination
• Monthly financial reconciliation support in collaboration with CPA or bookkeeper
• Cash flow forecasting aligned to exhibition and application cycles
• Studio staff coordination and payroll liaison
Complex project management
• Public art and commission coordination
• Exhibition logistics and customs coordination
• Archive digitization planning and oversight
• Exhibition install and deinstall coordination
Professional visibility and advisory
• Brand positioning and public-facing narrative strategy
• Coordination of speaking engagements and press
• Licensing and rights coordination with legal professionals
• Crisis coordination in collaboration with legal or PR teams
Legal, tax, and contractual decisions remain with licensed professionals. I manage process, timelines, and execution, not legal authority.
Marketing & Visibility Add-ons
These services are optional add-ons and are not included in studio management retainers unless explicitly contracted.
Marketing work is project-based or monthly, depending on the scope. All work is grounded in the artist’s existing practice and career goals. I do not provide influencer growth tactics, trend chasing, or lifestyle branding.
Add-On 1: Brand & Positioning Strategy
Starting at $750
Project-based
Best for:
Artists who feel unclear about how to describe their work, practice, or career publicly. This is for artists whose materials exist but feel scattered, inconsistent, or mismatched to the spaces they want to enter. The problem is not lack of work, but lack of clarity. The solution is a clear, usable public narrative that aligns studio practice, written materials, and outward-facing platforms.
What you receive:
• Brand and positioning audit across website, CV, statements, and online presence
• Clarification of core language around practice, themes, and trajectory
• Defined positioning relative to peer artists and target spaces
• Messaging framework for use across website, applications, and press
• 2–3 page written brand brief with guidance and examples
This add-on does not include graphic design or logo development.
Add-On 2: Website Editing & Optimization
Starting at $600
Project-based
Best for:
Artists who already have a website but know it is not working as well as it should. This is for artists whose site feels outdated, confusing, too long, or poorly organized. The solution is editing and restructuring what already exists so the site reads clearly, loads cleanly, and supports professional review.
What you receive:
• Content audit of existing website
• Structural recommendations for navigation and page flow
• Line edits and rewrites for key pages such as About, Work, CV, and Contact
• Image sequencing and caption guidance
• Accessibility and clarity improvements
• Final edit-ready copy for implementation
This add-on does not include full site rebuilds or platform migration.
Add-On 3: Website Build or Rebuild
Starting at $1,500
Project-based
Best for:
Artists who need a functional, professional website built, or rebuilt from the ground up. This is for artists whose current site is broken, missing, or actively undermining their work. The solution is a clean, straightforward site that presents the work clearly and meets professional expectations.
What you receive:
• Platform recommendation and setup guidance
• Site structure and page planning
• Copywriting for core pages
• Image selection and sequencing support
• Coordination of launch-ready content
• One revision round prior to launch
This add-on assumes use of accessible platforms like Squarespace or comparable systems. Hosting, domains, and third-party fees are not included.
Add-On 4: Website Management
$300–$500 per month
Ongoing
Best for:
Artists who want their website kept current without having to think about it. This is for artists whose work, exhibitions, or CV change regularly and who do not want their site quietly falling out of date. The solution is routine upkeep handled consistently.
What you receive
• Monthly updates to exhibitions, CV, and images
• Upload and formatting of new work documentation
• Minor copy edits as needed
• Broken link and functionality checks
• Quarterly structural review
Major redesigns or new page builds are scoped separately.
Add-On 5: Social Media Content Strategy
Starting at $500
Project-based
Best for:
Artists who use social media but feel unsure what to post or how it connects to their career. This is for artists who do not want to perform online, but understand visibility matters. The solution is a realistic, low-maintenance content strategy that reflects the practice without becoming a second job.
What you receive:
• Audit of current social presence
• Platform-specific recommendations
• Content themes aligned with practice and career goals
• Posting frequency guidance that respects studio time
• Sample prompts and content examples
• One-month or three-month content framework
This add-on does not include daily posting or audience growth services.
Add-On 6: Social Media Management
Starting at $750 per month
Ongoing
Best for:
Artists who want an active, professional presence without managing it themselves. This is for artists who are already producing documentation or written material and want it shaped and scheduled consistently. The solution is delegated execution within clear boundaries.
What you receive
• Content planning and scheduling
• Light copywriting and caption editing
• Posting to agreed platforms
• Comment and message triage within scope
• Monthly performance summary
Photography, video production, and community management beyond light moderation are not included.
IMPORTANT NOTES
• Marketing add-ons are scoped separately from studio management retainers
• Not all artists need marketing support to advance their careers
• All work is aligned to professional art contexts, not influencer culture
• Final approvals remain with the artist
Project-Based Services
Strategy Intensive — $475
Entry point - see if we're a good fit
What you get:
90-minute video consultation
Pre-session questionnaire to assess your current situation
Professional readiness assessment (Are your systems, materials, and positioning where they need to be?)
Current workflow and systems review
Opportunity identification specific to your career stage
3-5 page written report with prioritized action steps
Resource list (tools, templates, opportunities) tailored to your needs
One week of email follow-up for clarifying questions
Timeline: Scheduled within 1 week of booking, report delivered within 3 business days
Best for: Artists considering ongoing support, needing direction, preparing for a career transition, or wanting to audit their current systems
This fee is credited toward Systems Reset or first month retainer if you book within 30 days
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