Find me a Gallery!
Episode 5: Find me a Gallery!
Just how do you get your art work on the walls of a gallery and is there a special way to go about it?
So you can’t wait to get your work onto a gallery wall? In this episode we’ll discuss the basics of finding and approaching a gallery when you’re starting out. We’ll be following up this episode later with more advice about establishing and maintaining good gallery relationships along with building your portfolio of galleries.
“Never walk into a gallery and ask them to look at your work”
Can’t wait to get work on a gallery wall? Peter and Laura take you through some dos and don’ts that will leave you better equipped to deal with gallery etiquette. They both have healthy lists of galleries who show and sell their work, but it’s been a long journey with plenty of rejection and hard-earned experience along the way. So be prepared to slow down and take the time to do things right.
What’s discussed in this episode…
1. The more research you do, the better. Galleries vary enormously and each has a specific aesthetic. For a good gallery relationship, whether that’s for a one-off show or a long-term partnership, your work must fit with the gallery’s style and their customer’s expectations.
2. Think creatively to start with: Peter asked for the café walls of his local art centre. Laura’s collaborative group show in a non-gallery setting worked a treat. Events like these build experience and start to provide evidence of the commitment, professionalism and sustained work that galleries look for in a new artist.
3. There is a pecking order: rare artists who leap from their college show to instant stardom do exist, but for most of us it takes time. Laura found her first galleries by looking at artists who she thought were just a little ahead of her in experience and checking out where they were showing.
4. Never walk into a gallery and ask them to look at your work. Call the gallery, ask what their submissions procedure is and make sure you follow it to the letter. Be organized, respectful and professional: an excellent basis for all gallery/artist relationships. It’s perfectly fair and sensible to expect the same attitude from the gallery in return.
5. Rejection happens. Never take it personally, always take it gracefully and remember it’s a profession decision on the basis of sales. Move on and try elsewhere. If you can get feedback, take it and learn from it. Sometimes you may just need to grow a little before you’re ready to show. A gallery may well keep an eye on your development with plans for the future, so never burn your boats!
6. Be cautious, especially of offers to show your work at unexpectedly prestigious exhibitions. Vanity shows make their money from the artist, not art buyers. Never let your ego get romanced at the expense of your common sense.
Laura promised you a basic list of things a gallery will expect from an when receiving work, here you go:
Work in an exhibition-ready state including framing, fixtures, any wrapping etc.
All work clearly labelled with artist’s name, medium and title.
A list of retail prices for the works. It is professional, and expected, that your work will retail at the same price wherever it is bought. More on that in a later podcast.
A signed contract agreeing terms. A gallery who doesn’t provide a contract is one to avoid.
Contact phone numbers – a sale can rest on the gallery being able to reach you.
Artist’s biography, artist’s statement, artist’s CV (not always necessary, but good idea to provide anyway)
The Takeaway…
If the gallery staff get chatting while you are visiting for research, don’t feel awkward: fess up and tell them exactly why you’re there. Then tell them that you’ll be in touch to find out their submissions procedure if you think your work might be a fit. You’ll be showing that you take your work and their gallery seriously while ‘getting’ gallery etiquette, much classier than pretending you’re buying a gift for your mum!
