A few years ago, my neighbour’s friend visited my studio to see my art. She fell in love with what she saw and praised my work generously. It was one of the most overwhelming interactions I had experienced in a long time.
Silvi di is an activist and a very simple, grounded woman. The next day, before leaving, she bought one of my paintings. She chose a work that was very close to my heart, one from my early days as an artist. I told her the listed price and offered her a friend’s discount. She refused. Instead, she paid the full amount.
As she was leaving with the painting, I thanked her profusely. She stopped me and said,
“I should be the one thanking you. It is your art, your creation. A part of you lives on that canvas, and you have entrusted it to me to keep for the rest of my life. It is your treasure, and I am its custodian. For that, I have only given you a token amount.”
I was taken aback. People like this exist?
A few weeks ago, another friend’s friend came home to see my work. He liked something and asked the price. I offered him a friend’s discount on the listed price. He negotiated further, trying to bring the price down. His logic: “Anything unsold from a show is leftover work, and you should give a discount.”
I was taken aback again. People like this also exist.
Very few artists sell all their work at an exhibition. We labour for years before we put together a show, fully aware that there is no guarantee of sales. What is guaranteed is a wide range of encounters with people interested in art. Some will treat your work as a treasure they are privileged to hold. Others will treat it like a product to be bargained over.
To all my artist friends, I wish you many more encounters with people like Silvi di—those who recognise your work as a treasure.
Shubhra
January 15, 2026
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