Limited Editions Buyers Guide

Why buy a Limited Edition artwork from Tate?

Each time a Limited Edition is sold, the proceeds go towards important fundraising for our galleries and artistic programme – but it’s not just Tate that benefits from these sales. When you purchase a Limited Edition from Tate, it’s everyone’s gain – benefitting the galleries, the artist, and, importantly, you.

Art collecting for everyone

Because our Limited Editions raise vital funds for Tate, we’re able to work with artists and their galleries to set affordable launch prices in relation to their markets. This means that art lovers who might not ordinarily have the means to purchase original artworks have the opportunity to own a piece of work from a world-renowned artist. Many of our pieces also qualify for purchase under the Own Art scheme.

Established collectors benefit too – our portfolio of Tate Limited Editions includes unique and created especially-for-Tate pieces from artists already in the collectors’ market, ‘break-out’ artists whose works will become highly sought-after in future, and archival pieces made available from deceased artists estates. Lisa Brice, Kara Walker, Ai Weiwei, Julian Opie, Paula Rego, Richard Long, Lubaina Himid, Howard Hodgkin, Paule Vézelay, Rachel Whiteread and Lynette Yiadom-Boakye are just some of the artists and estates who’ve generously worked with us on a Limited Edition project.

Support for the arts that support the artists

For each new Limited Edition project, Tate approaches an artist and either commissions a new artwork or makes an existing limited edition artwork by the artist available. We cover production costs, and pay the artist a fee or split the profits (this is at the discretion of the artist – some artists or estates also gift a work or their fee to support the galleries). The artists we approach have artworks held in the Tate collection or a connection to Tate, and welcome the idea of opening up access to their work to a wider audience.

Keeping the collection open to all

The proceeds from Limited Editions sales are covenanted directly to Tate, to help ensure that the artworks and galleries remain open and accessible to everyone, for free. It helps us to promote public understanding and enjoyment of British, modern and contemporary art, and to fund our ambitious programmes to help the next generation of artists find their way in the art world.

Buyers Guide

Tate Limited Editions are authentic signed and numbered artworks, exclusively available to buy and treasure from Tate Shop.

We’ve put this buying guide together to show you what to expect when looking to buy a Tate Limited Edition. Hopefully it’ll answer any questions you might have and give you some insight into what happens when you purchase one of our limited run artworks.

EDITION NUMBERS

As the name suggests, all of our Limited Editions are numbered, limited runs. The edition numbers available are shown on the Edition’s product page, and you can click to select the number you’d like to purchase.

New Limited Editions are presented in batches. The first batch usually begins with the lower numbers, and once these are sold, the next batch of editions will become available.

The price of each batch will increase as the edition sells out. This is traditional in art sales. As the Limited Edition can never be reproduced after the initial production run, the price increase reflects its rarity.

We try to avoid offering specific edition numbers, but if you’re interested in a particular number, please contact us and we’ll see if we’re able to help.

Insider tip: If you’re keen to be the first to access new Limited Editions, consider signing up for Tate Membership.. Members usually have exclusive priority access for new launches and special offers, and Limited Editions are included in their 10% discount offer on shop products.

AUTHENTICATION AND CERTIFICATES

All of our Limited Editions are signed by the artist or accompanied by a certificate signed by the artist – an individual touch, providing a real connection to its creation.

As this is the authentication, we do not routinely issue Certificates of Authenticity (COA) as standard. However, if you would like to request a COA (signed by our Limited Editions Manager) then please contact us and we’ll do our best to arrange one for you.