New website for an art gallery and art advisory in Chicago: real cost vs local agencies (2026)

The verdict in three sentences

For an art gallery or art advisor in Chicago, the website must show within seconds which artists you represent, what you are exhibiting and how to buy or book a viewing. A local agency typically charges USD 12,000 to 35,000 for a custom site, while Kolonell's fixed grid offers USD 2,900 (Starter), USD 4,900 (Growth) and USD 8,900 (Premium), with a project manager reachable in Central time. Over 3 years, the gap comes down mostly to side costs (photography, maintenance, image rights), which you should price before comparing.

What Chicago galleries actually pay

Market ranges come from typical local agency quotes and public rate pages. Every Kolonell tier includes a project manager in your time zone, native English copywriting, delivery within the stated timeline once content is ready and 3 months of support. Gated areas (private viewing rooms for collectors), integrations with inventory management software and custom development are on quote. Details are on the international offer.

The pages a gallery website must include

• Artists: one page per represented artist, bio, selected works, exhibitions, only with the consent of the artist or estate.
• Exhibitions: current, upcoming, archive, with dates, installation views and critical text.
• Available works: medium, dimensions, year, 'price on request' if that is your policy.
• Art advisory: scope (private collections, corporate, hospitality), way of working, appointment booking.
• Fairs: past and upcoming participations, Expo Chicago for example.
• Gallery and contact: address, hours, access, sign-up for email invitations with explicit consent (CAN-SPAM).

The site should also target WCAG 2.1 AA accessibility (alt text for works, contrast, keyboard navigation), since ADA Title III website claims also reach small cultural businesses. Anti-money-laundering expectations applied to the art market in several countries are a reason to publish nothing about buyers or transactions. This is not legal advice.

The 3-year cost, hidden costs included

The build price is only part of the bill. Here is a 36-month comparison for a mid-sized gallery.

Lines marked 'market assumption' are estimates to be replaced with your actual quotes. Kolonell maintenance after the 3 included months is priced on quote.

When a Chicago agency is still the better choice

To be candid: a local agency is preferable if you want art direction that also covers your printed catalogs, regular meetings at the gallery, photo shoots run by the same vendor, or a highly experimental site conceived as a work in itself. It is also the better route if your team cannot supply copy and images within the first two weeks.

Questions to ask any provider: who owns the code and the domain? How do we add an exhibition without a developer? Are images optimized without visible quality loss? Who checks image rights? What accessibility level is tested?

Mini case study

Illustrative example: Fulton Street Works on Paper, a 9-artist gallery in the West Loop with a corporate collection advisory practice. It receives a local quote of USD 28,000. It chooses the Growth tier at USD 4,900 and adds USD 3,000 of photography (market assumption), for USD 7,900. The immediate saving is USD 20,100. If the gallery reinvests USD 6,000 of it in a regional art fair and one USD 12,000 sale follows, at a 50% commission, it recovers exactly that USD 6,000. These figures are illustrative.

FAQ

Is the Starter tier enough for a gallery?

For an art advisor or a gallery with a focused program, often yes, at USD 2,900. Once you manage exhibition archives and many artist pages, Growth at USD 4,900 is a better fit.

Do we need a multilingual site in Chicago?

Rarely for a local gallery. If you target Spanish-speaking or Asian collectors, the Premium tier at USD 8,900 is the multilingual tier, with languages set in the quote.

Can we sell works online directly?

It is possible, but most galleries prefer 'price on request' for significant pieces. An online shop or a private viewing room is priced on quote.

How much does artwork photography cost?

Expect roughly USD 1,500 to 4,000 (market assumption) for a set of works and installation views, depending on volume and formats.

What happens after the 3 months of support?

Maintenance is on quote. On the market, USD 150 to 400 a month (market assumption) is a common range.

Let's scope your project. A Growth site at USD 4,900 with artist pages, exhibitions and archives is delivered in 3 to 4 weeks once your images and copy are ready. See the international offer or request a free quote: detailed reply within 48 hours.