A How-To Guide to Getting Your Artwork in a Gallery
Ever wonder how artists get to exhibit their work in an art gallery? You have the online portfolio, the social media networks but nothing compares to the rush of a real life gallery opening night. Here, I will provide you with a basic outline of how to get your work up on their walls!
Number one - it never hurts to build connections within your community. Get out there and start doing some research and take a drive to some of your local art galleries. This way you will get a feel for what the gallery owner is looking for and the space that they could provide for you. Make sure that you are friendly and talk to whomever is working in the gallery at the moment. It may or may not be the gallery owner but it never hurts to give a good first impression. A good tip is to have business cards with your information on them -I use Vistaprint, they have very good sales on business cards- and provide them with your card on your way out. This way you are building a good relationship with your galleries in the neighborhood. This may or may not be your way into their network of other gallery owners - you will be surprised on how many of them know each other!
Pro tip - Make sure that you follow up with a thank you card or email about your meeting and how you really enjoy the gallery, if that is somewhere that you would like to show.
Number two - Have samples of your art in an actual physical portfolio with you. Sometimes you and the gallery owner will really hit it off and they will ask you to see your work. It never hurts to be prepared for such an occasion! In the past I used to bring my artwork with me - my actual originals - which isn't the best idea as they can get damaged upon transportation. That method did actually work for me once back in the day but today I stick with my samples.
Number three - Search for Calls For Artists. Sometimes galleries are booked with solo shows. Often which the artist has paid a certain monetary amount to show and/or is giving a percentage commission of their work if it sells to the gallery. Hey, they need to do business too. Doing research on Art Calls will (sometimes) get you into a community or juried art show. Juried meaning - judges and cash prizes for winning art work.
A great site to look at for Cleveland artists is called mycreativecompass.com , this site is an excellent resource for artists that are looking to be in galleries and also have creative employment posts on a regular basis. In my opinion the best time to search for art calls are in the winter and spring. There are so many galleries willing to have new artists hang on their walls during that time.
One thing to take in to consideration is that often times when a gallery is putting out a call for art they will ask you to include an application fee of usually around $30. Galleries will typically get hundreds of artist applications and only choose a handful of artists to show. You will have lost out on the application fee which can add up over time. This is not something I agree with but I have come to find out that charging a non-refundable fee is pretty customary of art galleries - at least in my experience in Cleveland, Ohio.
*Actual Solo Show December 2017 at Negative Space Art Gallery
The last thing to consider is to network through friends and continue to build these relationships, this may even get you closer to having your own solo-exhibition!
By doing all of the above I have been showing in art galleries since 2009 and I continue to put myself and my artwork out there for everyone to see. It can be difficult to get your foot in the door and have the courage to get into a gallery and bare your art to all to see. For me, it is so worth it! It feels so amazing to have people come up to you and tell you that they are inspired by you.
To see your art on those walls are truly a dream come true - I know you can do it too!