Being able to display your work well is an artist’s most important skill! While some people are gifted at drawing, painting, or sculpture, most artists must learn how to exhibit their work properly if they want it to get seen by other people.
As you know, being displayed alongside other works of art can really boost a piece’s appeal because it calls attention to the subject matter and features beautifully done production.
Many times, unfortunately, artists don’t take exhibition very seriously since it isn’t part of the educational process that many schools require. This is totally understandable as school resources often focus more on teaching students about making money as professionals rather than helping them understand why their artwork sounds boring or looks bad.
This article will go into more detail about the different types of galleries that artists should be familiar with so that you can choose which one best fits your artistic style and needs. In addition, we will talk about some easy ways to promote your own artwork while using this knowledge for yourself.
Write your display materials
After you have gathered all of your items, what to write about is probably the next most important thing! Most people get stuck here because they are so focused on whether their piece is shown or not that they forget how to describe it.
When describing your pieces, make sure to include enough information such as medium, size, price, and special features. It is also very helpful to know who owned the piece before you and why they gave it up for exhibition.
By knowing these things, other visitors can get more info on the artist and/or collector, which is always interesting to read.
Choose your location
Choosing where to show your work is an important part of exhibiting! The first thing you should do is decide what kind of space you have for showing off your art. This could be a gallery, museum, event venue, or even your own room or area!
You will want to consider how large your artwork is when deciding where to hang it. Art galleries usually provide hanging facilities such as cords that you use to attach the artwork to or wall hooks that hold the artwork up by its own weight.
Museums may ask you to ship your piece back home if they don’t have a suitable place for it at one of their locations.
Event venues can sometimes offer display spaces so that you don’t need to transport the artwork around yourself. These are very helpful since you won’t have to take time out to look after it!
If you don’t have much money but you still want to exhibit your work, then you can always visit garage sales, online sites, or friends and family to access a free or low-cost space to put up your art.
Be careful not to overdo this though! People who are lucky enough to have a lot of space in their house often get tired of looking at empty walls. Make sure your potential audience doesn’t feel too overwhelmed by all the decorations.
Prepare your space
Before you even approach the art, you need to make sure that your gallery area is ready! This means ensuring there are no distractions such as toys or games for kids, foods or drinks that may get touched by visitors, and removing anything ugly or boring that you might want to keep as souvenirs.
Your walls should be white or very neutral shades so they can easily go unnoticed. If this isn’t possible then consider hanging canvas panels instead of using framed artwork. Both look great and don’t require much storage space!
You also need to think about how many people will come into your room while the exhibition is on show. Will it have enough natural light? Are there easy access routes? And what kind of flooring do you have? All these things play a part in how comfortable guests feel when they visit.
Last but not least, check if your house has good ventilation and an internal phone line. Many museums won’t allow you to use external phones due to security reasons!
Blog post: How to Take Good Photos in A Room Settings
Instead, focus on having fun with your photography and being creative. Try experimenting with new settings and trying out new equipment.
Make your display look appealing
As discussed before, being displayed is an integral part of exhibiting art. Therefore, how you present your piece makes a big difference in how people perceive it.
Your setting and exhibition style are important factors in creating a pleasant viewing experience for others. If your painting has strong colors or patterns, that will appeal to other viewers.
Likewise, if the artwork seems professional and well-organized, this gives the impression of professionalism. Artists should never underestimate the effect their presentation can have on onlookers!
General tips: use white space, focus on the artwork, and include labels and information about the work. Avoid having too much background noise, like music or conversation.
And don’t forget to enjoy your gallery visit! Take some time to talk with friends and family about the artist, the painting, and anything related to the topic.
Dress the part
When it comes to exhibiting your artistic work, you should know what clothes look good and how to dress for the setting. What kind of gallery you are showing in will determine what style of clothing is needed.
If you are displaying your art at a museum or collection site, then formal attire is not necessary unless you have an event after the show. If this is the case, then be sure to pack ahead so you are prepared!
For example, if you are visiting the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City as part of an artist tour, then be sure to bring appropriate clothing such as jeans and a sweater or sweatshirt to match the season and tone with the artwork.
If you are hosting an exhibition at your home, then less formality can be practiced. Many artists do not require professional looking clothing because they use natural light or need to access their equipment when painting.
However, making yourself look fashionable will help people associate you more seriously about your craft and create a feeling of professionalism.
Know your audience
As mentioned earlier, showing off your artistic skills is one of the best ways to gain confidence as an artist! But before you show any of your work, you must know who will be viewing it.
If you are trying to get into art college or start your own business, then people with similar goals may want to see your work. Others might just like looking at pretty things so they can admire them.
For both groups of viewers, this article has tips on being more exhibitionist. For someone wanting to learn how to draw, we have some great ideas that apply to beginners.
As an aspiring professional, look for examples of beautifully executed drawings and paintings to inspire you. Figuring out what styles appeal to you will help you find your unique style.
Be familiar with your work
Being exhibited is an opportunity for you to show off what you do, and how you do it! This includes showing people your artistic side by depicting or representing things that inspire you, your style, and/or concepts that are important to you.
It also means displaying your skills as a photographer, artist, or designer by taking pictures, creating art, or designing inspiring materials and incorporating them into your work.
By being familiar with yourself and your field, you will know what to showcase and why!
Another way to prepare is by studying other artists’ works. Looking at their styles and techniques can help you figure out how to apply those to yours.
General rules of exhibiting: use good quality material, be professional when setting up your display, and emphasize your talent over anything else. Your audience will take notice if you seem more concerned about looking cool than showcasing your expertise.
Arrive early
Before going into an exhibition, gather some materials and read up on how to be prepared! You do not want to arrive late and then find out that there is no space for you to display your work because everyone else got there earlier.
In fact, most museums will have time before the opening of the show for people to look at and admire the works. If possible, try to come around lunchtime or just after the museum closes so that people are not too crowded.
Some artists even provide free entry times so that visitors can come back and see their work later in the day! This helps create consistency for showing off their art.
After the show has closed, many museums offer tour guides who give presentations about the exhibitions they’ve seen. These are very helpful as they usually contain lots of information and insights on the artwork!
Plan ahead and make use of these opportunities to learn more about your favorite artist.
