The Power in Exhibiting Your Artwork
Artists, have you ever submitted your art into a public exhibit? If you have, do you make applying to exhibition opportunities part of your regular art goals? I firmly believe that exhibiting your artwork leads to powerful results, both for your professionalism and for your “reach.”
Where do you find out about exhibitions? Start with local art organizations near you. You can also take a look at lists of open calls such as https://artcall.org/calls, https://www.callforentry.org/, and others. If you apply to juried shows, don’t be discouraged by rejection. Nobody gets accepted into every exhibition they apply to. It can be a bit of a numbers game. As you can see below, any show you get into is worth the time, money, and effort that goes into your applications.
Exhibiting Your Art Promotes Your Professionalism
Applying to juried exhibitions forces you to up your game and to create what’s known as a professional presentation. In order for your work to be accepted into the exhibition, you need to submit excellent photos of the work that fulfill the exact requirements of the jurying body (for example, a maximum file size, a naming structure such as lastname_title_dimensions_medium_year).
Many applications will ask for an artist statement and bio with a maximum word or character count. This is a good opportunity to continually refine the way that you write about your art and yourself as an artist.
When your work is accepted into an exhibition, it’s a great time to demonstrate your professionalism by framing and packaging your artwork well, delivering it on time and according to all instructions, and doing your part to publicize the exhibition. And one of the best ways that exhibiting your work boosts your professionalism? You can add it to your growing artist CV!
Experiencing Your Work in Person is Powerful
For just about all of us, even the best website or Instagram photo or video of our work doesn’t hold a candle to experiencing the work in person. There’s nothing like being able to look at the work from across the room, from six inches away, and from all angles. Any time you can make your work available for people to experience it in person is valuable and is more likely to lead to connections and sales than posting images online.
Whether sales take place at the exhibition or not, you may have the opportunity to attend the exhibit and speak to people about your work. You may have the chance to observe people as they experience your work, which can be fascinating feedback. Are they leaning up close to look at details? Are they smiling, or looking puzzled?
Exhibitions Expand Your Network
Not only do exhibitions expand your professionalism and the reach of your artwork, they also grow your network. By being a professional artist who follows all the rules and is pleasant and easy to work with, you’re making a good impression with the gallery or organization who is running the exhibition. You also have an opportunity to meet your fellow exhibiting artists.
Participating in exhibitions—particularly juried exhibitions—is one of the most important things you can do to take your art career to the next level. I hope that you’ll peruse some upcoming opportunities and find an art call that’s a good match for your art. I’m wishing you the best of luck!