A written professional assessment of where your practice currently sits and what should happen next. £350, returned within ten working days of receiving your materials. Every artist relationship with Kei London begins here.
Kei London is an art agency and artist agent in London working with contemporary artists across the UK and internationally. The Practice Review is how we read a practice properly before anyone talks about exhibitions, sales or representation. It is written by Arash Shahnavaz, founder of Kei London, who also teaches Art Practice and Business at Chelsea College of Arts, University of the Arts London.
What you send
Your artist CV, your artist statement, and a portfolio as a PDF or a link. We also look at your website and Instagram as they stand. Send everything to studio@keilondon.com or through the contact form with Practice Review in the subject line. The ten working days start when we have the full set.
What you receive
A written document covering five things.
- A review of your portfolio, artist statement, CV, website and Instagram, read the way a gallerist, curator or collector would read them.
- A written assessment of your positioning: strengths, gaps and the obstacles currently in the way.
- An assessment of your pricing against comparable artists at your stage and in your market.
- Curatorial observations on how the work is presented and how it is likely to be read.
- A prioritised set of next steps, with specific, dated actions across the next 90 days.
Who it is for
Artists producing consistent work who are ready to make professional decisions about how it is presented, and who want an honest assessment even when it is uncomfortable. Many have years of serious practice behind them and a body of work that deserves a route to market it does not yet have. Recent graduates are welcome where the work is already consistent.
It is unlikely to be the right fit if you are looking for a guaranteed exhibition, a promotional service, or a low cost review of a practice that is still forming.
What it does not include
The Practice Review is a written document. It does not include a meeting as standard, although a conversation may follow where useful. It does not include revisions, and it does not come with a promise of representation, sales, exhibitions, press coverage or introductions. We keep it this way because a fixed written deliverable at a fixed price is what allows it to be honest and detailed.
Where it leads
Artists who complete a Practice Review and are a good fit may be invited to continue into the Discovery Track, three months of focused work on how the practice is presented, understood and positioned, built around the 90 day plan in the Review. The Discovery Track starts from £850, and artists moving on from the Practice Review enter it at a reduced rate. In a small number of cases, representation follows. We take on four Practice Reviews a month, so there can be a short wait.
Common questions
How long does the Practice Review take?
Ten working days from the point we have your full materials.
Is the fee credited if I continue?
Artists moving from the Practice Review into the Discovery Track do so at a reduced rate.
Do you take a commission on sales?
Commission applies to work sold through Kei London and is agreed in writing before any sale.
Do you offer free portfolio reviews?
No. The Practice Review is a paid professional assessment, which is what allows it to be honest and detailed.
Do I need to be based in London?
No. We work with artists internationally and the review is conducted remotely.
Will a Practice Review lead to an exhibition?
Not by itself, and we do not promise that it will. We may approach reviewed artists when a project suits their work.
What happens to my materials after the review?
We keep your CV, statement and portfolio on file so that we can consider your work for future projects.
Is the price inclusive of VAT?
Yes. £350 is the full amount.
Read the founder's article, Five steps to a professional art career , or go back to Artist management.