How Long Should I Prepare for a Solo Art Exhibition

12 Tips On Preparing For An Fine art Exhibition For The Starting time Time

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How to prepare for your first art prove

How heady! Yous've been selected to take part and showcase your art in one of your first fine art exhibitions. Whether you're having an art evidence by yourself in a solo exhibition or you're showing your work as part of a group. Preparing for an exhibition can be daunting, and sometimes a footling hectic trying to get everything gear up and feel confident taking this next pace in your fine art career.

It's a huge achievement to display your artwork in a gallery or art event, and having your best work on display may help you attract potential buyers and other creative opportunities. Not to mention how valuable it is for networking and meeting new agreeing people who are interested in your work.

Equally an artist and curator myself, I've programmed and curated over 30 fine art shows and events so far, including some that display my ain artworks, so I've learned quite a fleck about how to exhibit art in a gallery or art space. I've had the run a risk to brandish my work in both solo and group shows locally and internationally and continue curating pieces for 2 London gallery spaces, which ways I regularly handle many art pieces and meet a lot of artists.

Take a look at some of the art exhibition examples we've hosted. Many of these artists are selected from our Night Yellow Dot artist database when they submit art to our open calls. It's incredibly rewarding to work with so many emerging artists. Many have never exhibited their artwork before, and have no idea how to prepare for it and question what is the best manner to exhibit a painting or brandish an fine art portfolio. If you can relate, and are not quite sure what to practise or where to start, hither are a few tips to help you go set, then that you lot feel more than confident while you lot excitedly, but nervously prepare for your starting time exhibition.

ane. Determine the best of your artwork to

brandish

Information technology may be tempting to desire to display all your favourite pieces, nevertheless doing so may not be the best representation of yourself as an artist, at the stage you're at correct now. Trim the excess and cut the weakest pieces. Only select artwork that is representative of who you are / what yous're making at present. Take a broad look at your art portfolio and select pieces that fit into a cohesive theme. Brandish pieces that take a similar artistic style or colour or medium. The organisers may accept already selected some pieces, and this will give you a better idea of the other work you lot could include.

2. Frame and wire your artwork the right way

Framing art for exhibitions may exist a little different than the way y'all do at home. You'll be surprised how many artists show up with their artwork framed improperly or in rare cases not at all. Most organisers and curators won't frame your artwork for you, so you lot should be prepared to do this yourself or get a professional to do information technology. Although, framing and mounting is fairly simple to practise on your ain without having to spend much money on expensive frames, mounting boards and framing services.

It's a good idea to invest in good quality frames for your artwork especially when the fine art pieces accept a higher price point. You should always cull frames that add to the quality of your art, not take abroad from it. There are plenty of places to purchase frames, merely bank check in your local area. If yous're short on greenbacks, try your local IKEA, or your local thrift store. If yous'd adopt to invest in some quality frames in the London area, try Jackson'south Framing or E17 Art House or run into our post on framing shops in London. It's best do to apply sturdy frames, appropriately sized picture mount inserts, and have a secure hanging wire or chord. Ask the gallery or curators how they would like the work presented if they've not fabricated it clear beforehand.

Some questions to ask gallery curators about framing art for exhibitions:

• • Does all my artwork need to be framed?
  • Can I utilize alternative hanging methods for my paper prints like wooden clamps or magnets?
  • Do all the frames demand to be the same colour and style?
  • How volition the work be mounted on the walls? By nails and screws? Tracking organisation? Command strips?
  • Do my paintings need to framed?
  • Do you have plinths for my sculptures? Can I bring my own? Will the plinths be covered?

3. Label your artwork

On the back, write your name and the yr the slice was created. If yous don't want to write directly onto the back of your art pieces, secure a paper label or mail-it note on the dorsum with the aforementioned info as the inventory or prototype menu: Name, title, size, medium. This is an important step. All too often artists forget to label the back of their pieces, so when we go to place the wall labels, we have no clue which pieces they go with. So be certain to make things easy and clear for the curators

4. Price your artwork appropriately

When figuring out what to charge, call back to price your art fairly and consider the commissions that will most likely be included. In some cases, the organisers may inquire for sizes and prices of certain works earlier they select information technology for exhibiting. This ensures the piece of work matches the caliber and size of the exhibition infinite. You tin include prices in a catalogue, make a give-and-take document or spreadsheet with images of the works, set for when the organisers ask for it. Pricing your art can for the showtime fourth dimension can be catchy, so we've created a blog mail on how to cost your artwork and some formulas for pricing your art consistently.

v. Take good pictures of your artwork

Accept quality pictures of your piece of work. Experiment with a range of shots of your artwork hanging on or leaning against a wall. Also, include close ups without backgrounds, and details of the piece of work. This may come in handy for insurance purposes if annihilation went wrong during your exhibition. The Artist Union and A-N both have affordable insurance packages for artists.

vi. Create an inventory list or catalogue for your fine art

Make a listing of pieces that volition exist on display. This can be a spreadsheet or a designed catalogue in a pdf format. When we host an art prove nosotros e'er request that artists provide the data outlined below, and then it'due south practiced to have this on mitt and ready to become. Some of the artists who have had solo exhibitions with us prefer to include their own catalogue every bit a way to keep track and also equally a way to document the experience.

Your catalogue should simply include important information such as:

• • Titles of each artwork, and the year it was created
  • Sizes in cm
  • Medium or materials used
  • Clear images without frames or other backgrounds
  • Price of the art and if information technology will be for auction
  • Your contact number, email accost and social media info

7. Update your bio and artist statement

It'due south a proficient idea to accept a quick read over your bio and artist statement, especially if it wasn't written recently. Utilize this opportunity to tweak or make some changes. Make sure the information is updated and relevant to you at this

stage. A bio and artist statement doesn't have to be very long. You want to inform the viewer about your work in a straightforward, succinct way that is clear and easy to read. We similar to remind artists that many visitors viewing the artwork in the gallery may not be artists themselves, so refrain from too much art jargon and lingo that may be confusing to the average person.

A simple paragraph of 100-200 words or so, well-nigh who you are, where you come from, and what this exhibition, series or art collection is about will suffice perfectly unless otherwise stated. Your artist bio volition exist what the organisers will employ on their website, social media, and creative person cards for people to option up and read at the exhibition. So, make it simple, brief merely informative.

8. Get your website & social media ready

If your work has been selected for an exhibition, you'll near likely already have an artist website or an online art portfolio. If you don't have one yet, keep reading to find out how to set up a beautiful site fast.

Spend some time updating it with new images, consider calculation new photography of your images and making sure your prices are consistent with the ones you gave to the organisers. Update your social media with new posts of the artwork and begin to create excitement and awareness by engaging with your audition. Instagram and TikTok are keen platforms to build the fizz and offer a backside the scenes look at your preparations to share with your followers. Instagram Reels, Stories, and TikToks are great for this.

While preparing for an art exhibition for the first time, you'll probably detect it beneficial to create an online portfolio website. If you don't already accept a website you tin can hands create ane with Wix or Squarespace. Drag and drop website builders are the easiest to become your art portfolio online fast. My favourite drag and drop website architect when I was starting out, and one I notwithstanding use for my ain personal art website is Wix.

They have really well designed templates and simple to utilize backends that aid you get things done quickly and easily. You lot don't demand any experience, no demand for expensive designers, and you can sentry all their tutorials on Youtube if you lot get stuck. You can take your website up and running for less than £nine/calendar month or £seventy per twelvemonth.  If you lot tin can't get to grips with a drag and driblet website builder, then Tumblr may be a good alternative. Merely to become a professional artist its important to get online with your own website domain. When we look through art submissions, the first things we look at is the artists bio, Instagram and online portfolio website.

9. Print some business cards

Y'all want to make it like shooting fish in a barrel for people to go far bear upon with you when you're not at the exhibition. Leave a card with contact info for people to visit your website, social media or contact yous by email. Business cards don't accept to be elaborate or expensive, only information technology'southward a practiced way to introduce your artwork or brand. You can design really beautiful cards on costless sites similar Canva and print good quality business cards with Moo or VistaPrint.

10. Arrange transportation

Effigy out how you're going to be getting to and from the venue with all your pieces. Make sure you know what time you're meant to be there and find out if you lot're required to stick effectually throughout the installation. Know where the loading zones are for the venue. If you don't bulldoze and if your fine art is too cumbersome for public transportation, enquire a friend for a favour or accept a cab.

11. Share and promote your art show

Be proud! Share the news. Give your followers, friends and family unit a heads up and sneak peak into what to expect from your new bear witness. This is a peachy opportunity to allow your network engage and ask questions about your new piece of work. Organisers may design and create artist cards and marketing materials for y'all to promote online likewise. But, be sure not share or promote your heady news before the organisers practise.

12. Pat yourself on the back

No matter what, this has and will be a great opportunity for you. Take from it what you volition. You should exist proud of what you've managed to exercise so far. As you lot make your final touches, don't forget to admit your hard work and accept some time to congratulate yourself. Hopefully these tips are able to assist you lot feel more than confident every bit you ready for your first art exhibition.

Planning An Art Exhibition Checklist

Need more than communication?

Manufactures to aid:

• • 6 things no one is telling your about your artist website
  • Pricing Your Artwork: Beginners Do's & Don'ts
  • How to write an artist statement people actually want to read

Sites to help:

• • VistaPrint
  • Moo
  • The Artists Union
  • A-N Public Liability Insurance

Tools to assist:

• • Wix
  • Canva

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Thank you for reading, and don't forget to share your art with us by submitting your art or tag #darkyellowdot on Instagram @darkyellowdot

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