Great Places to Share Your Artwork
Is your studio filling up with artwork that lights you up? Share it with the world! Displaying your work in public places is a powerful step in your art career. I advise the artists that I coach to create a plan of publicly exhibiting their work. Here are some ideas for traditional places to exhibit your work, and some that you may not have thought of.
Join Your Local Art Guild
Just about every geographic region has art groups. Perhaps your city has a group for your specific medium, or maybe there’s a league of artists of any medium. Join these groups! Not only does it help you make local art friends (which can be both supportive and fulfilling), but also groups like these typically host at least one group exhibition each year. This is an excellent way to get into your first exhibition!
Apply to Gallery Exhibits
Galleries put out calls for art on their website as well as on websites like https://www.entrythingy.com/, https://www.callforentry.org/, and https://artcall.org/calls, just to name a few. Take a deep dive and see if there is an open call that your art fits to a T. Keep in mind that you may need to pay an entry fee (with no guarantee of getting accepted) and the cost of shipping (I avoid calls that will involve shipping my work clear across the country).
Each call for art will lay out the specifics of what they’re looking for. This is an opportunity to up your professionalism by creating and submitting:
Excellent photos, cropped so that only your art is visible, not the frame
Your artist bio
An artist statement (this is a good opportunity to subtly communicate how your work fits the theme of the exhibition
If accepted, a well-mounted or framed artwork that meets the finishing requirements
It’s normal to get way fewer acceptances than rejections, so don’t give up if you don’t get accepted. Keep making art and submitting it! I make it a habit to submit to six exhibits per year.
Get Your Work Published
Just like galleries, art magazines like Women Art United, Arts to Hearts, and Create! Magazine do regular calls for art for their publications. Competition is tough, but it can be great exposure if you get in.
You can also search online for other publications that take art submissions. For example, there are numerous literary journals (both print and online-only) that take submissions for art.
Do a Home Show
It’s entirely possible to do your own art exhibit in your home or in the home of a friend. Curate a series of work that could be displayed together in one or two rooms. Spread the word about your show (ideally a 2-3 hour drop-in gathering with nibbles and refreshments). You may not feel comfortable asking strangers, but you can invite friends and family and ask them to invite their friends and network.
The emphasis of this show may or may not be about selling the work. You can reap so many benefits just by observing people’s reactions to your work. It’s also excellent practice for speaking about your work. And the show adds to your growing artist CV!
Place Your Art in Local Businesses
Think about the businesses you frequent: your dentist, hair salon, coffee shop, restaurant, nail salon, etc. These places want to create an attractive vibe but may not have a big budget for decorative artwork. If you are comfortable with the proprietors, propose a one-month display of your artwork. Be very specific with your proposal, outlining:
How many pieces of art you can offer, including images of them and the sizes
How long the display will be and the proposed timeframe
Whether or not there will be wall labels about the art
Whether or not the art will be for sale, and if so, who will conduct the sale. How much commission will you give the establishment?
Outline the responsibilities: who will hang and take down the artwork, who will be responsible in case of loss or damage, etc.
Create a Pop Up Exhibit
Team up with local artist friends and create a pop up exhibit in your area! This show could take place in a short-term rental space. For example, think of the many empty storefronts out there. The owners of the space are losing money every month that it sits empty. They may welcome a weekend rental that will bring the public into the space.
Some retail stores welcome pop up exhibits. Inquire about this anywhere you’ve seen it. Or if you see a store that is a perfect fit for your art but doesn’t compete (for example, a women’s clothing and lifestyle boutique that’s the perfect fit for your feminine, floral paintings), approach them with a proposal! It can be a win-win.
Showing Your Art is Powerful
Taking a chance and sharing your art with the world pays dividends. Not only does it help you further establish yourself in your art career, but it also allows you to see the connection your work has with the viewer. This will inspire you to keep going! Want more helpful tips and insights to help you grow your art practice and art sales? Join my email list!
Caryl