How to Sell or Donate Artwork You No Longer Want or Need
Art is one of the categories we most enjoy handling for our clients. From a practical standpoint, artwork is often easier to manage than many other household belongings: most pieces hang on walls, are relatively flat, and can be moved safely with the right care. And because so many people enjoy having art in their homes, it is often easier to sell, donate, or pass along than clients expect.
At the same time, “art” is a broad category that includes many different tiers, and not all art should be handled in the same way.
Broadly speaking, artwork tends to fall into the following categories:
Fine art: museum-quality pieces
Collectible art: works by known artists, though not at the very top of the market
Decorative art: original art with skill and quality, but limited demand
Reproduction or editioned art: prints, posters, and multiples
Commercial and decorative art: art designed primarily to complement home décor
Personal or sentimental art: pieces with emotional value, often tied to family or memory
If you find yourself with artwork you are considering selling, donating, or even deciding whether to keep, the first step is understanding which category your art fits into.
Over the years, we have worked with many clients who assumed that attractive or well-framed pieces were fine or collectible art, when in fact they were not. The opposite situation does arise as well — occasionally, a client owns something far more valuable than they realized. For that reason alone, it is almost always worth doing some research before making decisions.
There is a great deal of information available online that can help you begin assessing the artwork you own. As with any online research, it’s important to approach this information thoughtfully and with a healthy dose of skepticism. Still, it can be an easy and inexpensive way to start narrowing down what you have.
One of the first things to consider is the artist. If a piece is signed, this process may be relatively straightforward. If it is unsigned, you may be relying on family lore or information you’ve heard over the years, which can be less reliable and may require additional verification.
Size can also play a role. Larger works of art often command higher prices than smaller ones, though this is only one factor among many and not a guarantee of value.
In future blog posts, we’ll explore these categories in more detail and offer practical guidance for how to handle artwork depending on its likely value — whether that means professional appraisal, sale, donation, or simply letting go without guilt.
If you’re feeling unsure about how to handle artwork during a move, downsizing, or estate transition, you don’t have to navigate it alone. At Paper Moon Moves, we help clients think through their options thoughtfully and connect them with trusted resources when needed. Sometimes that simply means helping you understand what you have — and what steps make sense next.
At Paper Moon Moves, whether we are helping with a New York City senior move or supporting an executor or heir managing inherited artwork, our focus is always the same: helping clients handle their art with care, clarity, and thoughtfulness.