Student Question - Emerging Artist

If there is a new emerging artist, or someone that wants to become an artist, how do they get people to see their work? I know people have their art in galleries and museums, but how do they get them there? Is it up to the individual owner of the gallery?

This is always the big challenge - how do you get started.

There is really no one way to do this - or at least there is no one way that works for everyone. Galleries and museums work in different ways. The function of a museum is to collect and display those works that have proven to have some significance. So museums are less likely to take a chance on any unknown artist.

Galleries are the way to go if you are looking to start selling your work. But this can be very difficult. Remember that most major galleries are businesses and are concerned with making a profit. Therefore they tend to focus on artworks that they know will sell to their patrons. Non-profit galleries are more accepting of new artists, but may not command the respect and prices of the bigger galleries.

So what can you do? I'd recommend trying something like this.

Start off by entering into juried shows. Galleries and schools will often have juried exhibitions where artists can send in some examples of their work in the hopes of being accepted and displayed. This kind of thing is a good resume builder and can also be profitable (the piece could be sold or win a prize for example). The only real problem with juried exhibitions is that you do have to spend money on the entry fee and the shipping. I recommend making 5 or 6 individual smaller works (paintings or prints in particular) and try to enter those into juried exhibitions.

While you work on that, start producing a series (works that use the same materials, style, and theme) and start applying to galleries. Most galleries have a website where they have their submission guidelines - so look those over. Also, be sure to look at the type of artwork that each gallery has on display. Try to find one that displays work similar to yours.

A good time to investigate galleries is the summer. With many of their patrons away for vacation, many galleries will forgo major exhibitions and instead focus on displaying the work that they already own from their stable of artists. You can get a good sense of what they are all about by observing the works in these exhibitions.

Be prepared for a lot of rejection - it is just part of the job. Research and preparation are vital.

If all else fails - Have someone famous buy one of your works and have them donate it to a major museum.