I am an artist trying get my art out there to galleries and museums. I am not sure what my first step will be because I am a recent college graduate just starting my art career. Any advice, please.
Do some research. Idenitify galleries that market themselves as showing emerging artists. Go to their shows and talk to people...vistors and staff. Ask about criteria used for selecting artists. Almost immediately, compile a disk or make slides of work that represents your best efforts. Most galleries look for artists who have consistency in their styles, a command of application and technique and show confidence in handling their medium. Less emphasis on subject matter but still important. You can scout of many galleries on line and then find the person who receieves submissions. Follow their guidelines in preparing and sending in your disk or slides. You should also arrange some shows. Check local coffee houses (not Starbucks ), smaller eating places, or ask around for other odd venues as many show local artists. Build a web site. Yahoo offers space and simple tools for less than $12 a month. You'll need digital images of your work for loading up to the site. Put together a brochure using the same images. You'd be surprised what you can do on a PC/Mac and a home color printer. And be sure to make up some business cards or postcards with an image to drop off whenever opportunities arise (like at the local art store). Read the artist opportunities in Art News and submit entries into competitions, then be sure to spread the word of the show (sometimes the gallery will send you postcards to mail out). And, always think exposure. How and where...like art centers, art fairs, or even your own sidewalk or driveway exhibition. As you succeed in getting showings, you must create an artist's statement, and a profile giving your education and background, and a list of recent exhibitions. At first, they may be the cafes, but eventually, as you add to the list, even you will be impressed. This material goes on the website, too. Yes, all this takes you away from making art, but this is what it takes to market yourself. Good luck!. |
