I know artists often make art to try to get by, but you have to admit how high the prices would sound to outsiders, which is why I see people arguing over art pricing ethics all the time.
The arguments against pricey art: It is offensive to societal necessities to price art higher than that, and there comes a point in an art’s price where it doesn’t make sense to raise the price more based on what relative little went into making it.
The arguments in favor of pricey art: They help the artist and it’s up to the person buying the art how much they’re willing to pay.
Based on the arguments in favor of pricey art, what’s the highest you’ve ever priced art (both with haggling intended/involved and without haggling intended/involved) and were able to sell it for that amount?
Why are you comparing engineering with art rates? Not even engineering is a level playing field, same as art. Imagine charging the same for a colored pencil drawing vs metal sculpture.
Because somebody put time and effort into creating something, it took talent, and underselling at minimum wage per hour just erodes peoples expectation of effort and alent for art. Charge more, people will take it more seriously. There is a reason people think an apple monitor stand is fine priced at $999, its their perception of value.