Retail trade exchange is what artists normally engage in and what is at issue here. This information was provided by Steve Goldbloom of Bay Area and Hawaii Barter Exchange. His company, like most barter and trade exchanges, handles art. When I mentioned the Peter Max tax dispute as my reason for calling, Mr. Goldbloom informed me that not only does he have Max's work hanging in his office, but that Max's work and that of other artists are also available through his company. According to Goldbloom, Bay Area and Hawaii Barter and Exchange oversees all tax collecting.
Members pay all sales taxes in cash whenever they make transactions.
What surprised me in researching this article is that more artists make their art available through barter and trade exchanges than I thought. This is apparently a very viable income option for certain artists, especially those whose names and art are relatively recognizable. As a member, an artist can receive just about any goods or services that she would normally pay for simply by trading art. All rights reserved.