23 Sandy Gallery

  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • HOME
  • SHOP
  • BLOG
  • UPCOMING
  • PAST EXHIBITIONS
  • ABOUT
  • CONTACT
  • Cart$0
  • Log In
  • Shopping Cart
  • Checkout
You are here: Home » Products Page » Blog Postings » The Business of Being an Artist

The Business of Being an Artist

29 Apr 2011 / 1 Comment / in Blog Postings/by LauraRussell
How To Get Your Work Into Art Galleries

One of the big questions on every artist’s mind is: how do I approach an art gallery with my artwork? This can be a tricky question since all galleries have different ways of finding new artists to add to their rosters. This article will give you some ideas on how to get the gallery attention your art deserves.

First off. Do your research. Find out what kind of art your target galleries generally show. Each gallery has aesthetic, style or medium preferences. Go to the gallery or their website, and see if your art fits. Make a list of the best venues for your artwork and target just those galleries.

Second, find out the gallery’s “submission policy.” For example, some galleries only reviews artist submissions each year for a specific time period. Some galleries may say they are not accepting any new artists at this time. Co-op galleries features artist members, with occasional openings to become a member. Some galleries have special areas that are available to consign artwork or they feature unrepresented artists selected through a jury process. Does a gallery only show local or regional artists or are they open to out of town artists?

All of this important information can usually be found on the gallery’s web site. Look for their “artist submissions” page. You may have to do a little digging to find it, but check these areas: Contact, Artists or About Us. Some may request a link to your web site, your resume or your bio. Some galleries may require slides, or JPGs on a CD via mail. Some galleries hate getting JPGs via email. Find out how they want to be approached and follow their guidelines.23 Sandy Gallery’s submission policy is fairly detailed and can be found here.

So, what if you follow the guidelines with no results? Do not feel too disheartened. There are still other steps you can take to try to get a gallery to pay attention. Here are a few things that you can do to increase your chances of getting what you want.

Get to know the gallery. If the gallery is local, go visit, and do it frequently. Go to their openings, events or artist lectures. Meet the people who work at the gallery, and then go even further and build a relationship with them. Remember, even a gallery receptionist might be a good person to get to know. They have the ear of the gallery owner or director. Also, support the gallery. Buy some art, a book, some cards. Whatever your budget allows. Anything helps.

Watch your target galleries to see what sort of opportunities they have for artists. Perhaps they have special areas set up for new artists. Or, perhaps they will have a call for entries to juried shows. Entering juried shows is a great way to give the gallery a test run. You get to know them and how they operate and they get a chance to give your art a “test run” with their regular collectors. Watch for these opportunities and then jump on them.

Don’t bombard the gallery owner with emails. Don’t add them to your monthly email newsletter list without asking their permission first.

  • Find out the name of the person you send should contact. Sending an email to “Dear Curator” or “Dear Gallery Owner” gets you right to the trash bin.
  • Ask for the sale. If you do send an email, don’t say “here is my new painting.” That’s nice, but what do you want the gallery to do about it? Tell them if you are looking for feedback or for a show or whatever.
  • Be seen and be heard, but don’t be annoying. Galleries are not going to work with artists they don’t like. If they get to know you and your charms, getting your art noticed is easier.
  • Gallery folks are very, very busy. Most off all, respect their time.

 

If you follow these three steps, you will have a much easier time getting your artwork seen and your creative voice heard. Also remember to just keep trying, it may take persistence and perseverance, but eventually you will succeed.

One Response to The Business of Being an Artist

  1. Courtney Penzato says:
    May 27, 2012 at 5:26 pm

    I found this post very helpful. Knowing how to approach a gallery the correct way can be difficult if you don’t do your homework.

    Thank you for your advice,
    Courtney Penzato,
    Photographer.

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Want to join the discussion?
Feel free to contribute!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Welcome to the 23 Sandy Online Gallery

Click here for more information on how to shop at 23 Sandy. Scroll down for a list of artists in inventory.

SEARCH 23 SANDY INVENTORY BY ARTIST NAME, TITLE OR KEYWORD

SEE MORE 23 SANDY ARTISTS & CATEGORIES

  • Artist Books
  • New Works
  • Gift Ideas
  • Curated Collections
    • ARLIS 2018
    • Women Rise
    • Altered Books
    • Book Power
    • Eco Books
    • Letterpressed
    • Love Between the Pages
    • Photographic Artist Books
    • Pop-Ups & Movable Books
    • Print on Demand Books
    • Subject: Math and Science
  • Browse by Artist Name
    • Jody Alexander
    • James Allen
    • Rhiannon Alpers
    • Alicia Bailey
    • Mary Bennett
    • Sarah Bodman
    • R D Burton
    • Ruth Bryant
    • Lin Charlston
    • Susan Collard
    • Laura Davidson
    • Mari Eckstein Gower
    • Margot Fagan
    • Casey Gardner
    • Malini Gupta
    • Diane Jacobs
    • Paul Johnson
    • Ellen Knudson
    • Karen Kunc
    • Shereen LaPlantz
    • Jim Lommasson
    • Susan Lowdermilk
    • Kent Manske
    • Mary V. Marsh
    • Kyoko Matsunaga
    • Lise Melhorn Boe
    • Katie Nelson Harper
    • Bonnie Thompson Norman
    • Lynne Olson
    • Dr. Bob Pliny
    • Laura Russell
    • Jaime Lynn Shafer
    • KrzysztOFF SKAin May
    • Lynn Skordal
    • Jessica Spring
    • Tyler Starr
    • Sandy Tilcock
    • Andrew Topel
    • Elsi Vassdal Ellis
    • Shu-Ju Wang
    • Linda Welch
    • Thomas Parker Williams
    • Nanette Wylde
    • Dorothy Yule
  • Past Exhibitions
    • BUILT - April/May 2017
    • Women Rise - January February 2017
    • Pop-Up Now II — November 4 - December 17, 2016
    • Wanderlust — May 27 - July 30, 2016
    • A Shift-Lab Collaboration: Trace — March 31 – April 30, 2016
    • Ink + Metal + Paper — February 4 - 27, 2016
    • Blood Quantum - Nov 6 - December 19, 2015
    • Pages and Places - Through October 31, 2015
    • Hello Hedi — June 5 - July 25, 2015
    • Codex Finds — March 25 - April 25, 2015
    • SACRED | PROFANE - November 7 - December 20, 2014
    • GBW NW Showcase 16 - October 3 - November 1, 2014
    • Altered Visions - September 5 - 27, 2014
    • Book Power Redux - May 30 - July 26, 2014
    • EcoEditions - November 15 - December 28, 2013
    • Poignant to Playful: Pop-Ups - September 5 - November 9, 2013
    • FEAST! - May 10 - June 15, 2013
    • Infinite Possibilities - November 30 - December 29, 2012
    • INKED! — September 7 - October 13, 2012
    • The Poetic Pen - June 22-July 28, 2012
23 Sandy Gallery • 623 NE 23rd Ave • Portland, Oregon • Located 3 Doors North of Sandy Blvd on NE 23rd Ave. •  503-927-4409
Home • Artists in Inventory • Blog • Upcoming • Past Exhibitions • About • Contact
© Copyright - 23 Sandy Gallery - Wordpress Theme by Kriesi.at
  • scroll to top
  • Join our Facebook Group
  • Subscribe to our RSS Feed