How to show your art at galleries ✷ How I started working with galleries as a self-taught artist

This is all important advice! It's hard to know early on what's a good opportunity, when to say yes, and when to say no. Hanging some art in a coffee house, restaurant, or office building are great opportunities for artists who need some early experience, and these venues sometimes rival formal galleries as worthy exhibition spaces, depending on where you live. We agree that artists need to have healthy skepticism of juried shows with high fees and a perpetual revolving door of shows. Staying involved in your local art community is a great way to find opportunities and learn how to approach and work with formal galleries, if that's your goal, but these days more and more independent artists eschew traditional venues, and that's a valid choice too! (We're really looking forward to your upcoming solo show, Christina!)

From someone who has done close to no professional work yet, this was extremely helpful and encouraging.

I just happened to look at this video because of the title. It has to be the best and clearest advice i ever heard. And totally agree that artist should go to galleries. Social media is ok, but human contact and direct reaction to your art has no price. I am not an artist or have a gallery, but i love going to galleries as much as going to museums.

Being in a gallery or in my case, an artist cooperative, helps with promoting your work especially to those clientele who are interested in art. I found that being in an artist cooperative has allowed me more interaction with the local artists as well as challenge me to paint more seriously …to be more challenge in my painting.

OMG how helpful that video is! Without all the useless talk straight to the point, honest and open! I love the video, and I love your vibe! Thank you so much!!!!!

Helpful advice and it works! I responded to a request for new artists from two local galleries (different towns - important as you don't want to compete). I followed their application criteria on their website and made sure I had high quality images of my work. They called me in to show my work in the flesh. Both accepted me and I have work currently on display in one of them and booked to display my work in the other later this year. It has opened doors to meeting other local artists and gave me the confidence to apply for a local Artists Open Trail which I again got accepted on and I made so many amazing connections.

Very helpful.

This is such useful information, thanks again! 🍃

Thanks for this helpful information! Being referred by other artists in galleries can be extremely helpful. That’s why it’s imperative to master your craft and network with other painters. Thanks for this great tip!

Huge thanks for sharing your experiance, it's help a lot!

Hello ❤I love Art

Thanks for sharing! The gallery that represented my work in Guatemala was put under by COVID and the state of Guatemala in general. Such a shame as I had a great show there. Now back in the US it is like starting all over. Need to follow your advice of showing locally..

Hi christna I'm a self taught artist I wish I knew how to create frames, everything you mentioned I'm that way,and I'm a artist tying to sale unawareness about art selling

Thanks for the info! I'm actually about an hour from Chicago and should probably drive down there to visit some galleries. My favorite subject is imaginary animals and I think it may be difficult to find a gallery interested in that, but they probably exist. :)

This was an interesting video. I'm a Finnish artist and basically if you want to be valued as an artist in Finland you have to have shown your work in galleries, also because that's pretty much the only way to ever get grants. You also have to apply to galleries through online application or email which usually include your proposed exhibition idea and a few samples of you previous work.

I love the painting you have in the background. Question time. How do you connect with your community through galleries? I have heard before that galleries often don't want you to have direct contact with buyers. Was that info i heard wrong? I am glad that you have not only been able to make friends in the community and network with them, but that you have had the confidence to approach galleries as well. Keep being awesome.

What about pastels or drawings can sale in galleries

Start with local galleries Look for open calls Reach out to other artists Be persistent