Artwork Registration

The act of formally recording a new work in an artwork archive, inventory or collection management system with a unique identifier and complete metadata.

Artwork registration is the act of formally recording a new work in an archive, inventory or collection management system. It involves assigning a unique inventory number, capturing core metadata (title, year, medium, dimensions, signature), photographing the work to archival standards and linking any supporting documents such as a certificate of authenticity. Registration is the moment a work becomes a tracked record rather than an undocumented object.