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Desire to evidence your art in a gallery, just have few or no ideas where to begin? Getting into a gallery is much more than having plenty inventory, and information technology can be difficult to navigate the process without a knowledgeable guide.

Crista Cloutier–the art business skilful and consultant behind The Working Creative person–is simply the guide you demand. This talented multi-hyphenate–with titles including artist, gallerist, and fine arts appraiser–has sold artists' work to art galleries beyond the world.

She now spends her fourth dimension helping swain artists to accomplish success and create a thriving business. We asked Crista to share her expertise on how to reach art gallery representation.

Before You Begin the Process...

The beginning step is to call back that art galleries aren't the be all and finish all of selling your art. There are many, many other opportunities out in that location, so don't get hung up on showing in a gallery.

Getting into the gallery that yous want could be a long term goal. So, be patient and build your career and build your audience with that end result in heed.

Crista's Guide to Art Gallery Representation:

1. Find the Gallery That Fits Your Work and Goals

The very first thing that an artist should exercise is research. Only considering a gallery sells fine art, information technology doesn't hateful they should sell your art. A gallery human relationship is similar a marriage–it's a partnership–and it has to work for both sides.

A gallerist is unremarkably a creative themselves and they have their own aesthetic, interests, and focus. Doing your research means finding out which galleries make the nearly sense for your artwork and career goals.

ii. Develop a Relationship With That Gallery

It'southward important to develop a relationship with the gallery that you desire to show in. That means signing upwards for their mailing list, going to their events, and finding out what information technology is they need that you could give.

I recommend showing up to gallery events more than once, having business concern cards, and challenging yourself to take at least three conversations while you're there. And, sympathise like any human relationship that it merely takes time. Stay open up to whatsoever fate brings yous.

It's likewise critical to care for everybody at that place like they're potentially your best client. You lot never know who could exist best friends with the gallerist or actually exist the gallerist. By judging or dismissing people, you're missing out on what the whole relationship and audition building is about.

The determination maker gets hammered all the fourth dimension, so by existence part of the gallery'south tribe you're getting to know the people in the sphere of the determination maker. When I considered a new artist as a gallerist, it was nigh e'er considering some other artist I worked with or one of my clients told me near their piece of work.

3. Know How to Speak About Your Art

It'south essential to know how to talk about your piece of work. The all-time way to practise this is to brand sure your work is about something. If your work is about cocky-expression or personal feelings, dig deeper. Writing your artist statement helps you form your ideas and put language to them. It'southward important to put language to your ideas, both in your artist statement and in your conversations.

I once introduced an artist to a collector, and she asked him what his work was like. He mumbled, "I used to work in acrylics, but now I work in oils." She was actually insulted because that's all he said. There was no where for that conversation to go.

Many artists say, "I don't like to talk about my work" or, "My work explains itself", but it doesn't. Your work doesn't speak for itself. Yous demand to requite people a identify to come up into information technology. The best way to sell art is to have a story for information technology. The story tin be technical, emotional, inspirational, historical, anecdotal, or even political.

And while not many galleries practice studio visits anymore, you'll desire to exist prepared to talk about your art if they do. Be sure to have a twenty minute presentation at the ready, with food. You need to know exactly what to say, what to show, the order to get in, your prices, and the stories that go with each piece.

four. Wait to Bring Your Audition with You

Make sure you have your own audience to bring to a gallery. This is something you lot can build yourself, specially through online tools or at events. Create mailing lists and a following, and go on runway of the people who show interest in your work. An artist should e'er be building their own audience and be able to keep control of that audience.

Y'all accept to be filling the gallery with people too. You take to work just as hard as the gallery does to promote your events and tell people where they can find your piece of work. Information technology is a partnership, and the best partnerships are when both people are working just as hard to become people in the door.

ARTWORK ARCHIVE NOTE: You can learn more than most this in Crista Cloutier's gratis east-volume 10 Divine Secrets of Working Artists. Download it here.

5. Follow Submission Guidelines to the Letter

In one case you've established a relationship, find out what the gallery'southward submission policies are. This is one place where you don't desire to suspension the rules. I know as artists nosotros ever interruption the rules, but don't break the rules on submission policies. As far as your submission materials, brand certain you lot have good, solid ones.

Take high-quality, cropped images that include the work'south title and dimensions. It's a good idea to accept an online portfolio as well as a hard copy, then you're ready for annihilation. Information technology depends on the submission policy, but it's also adept to take your biography, CV, and artist statement set up when y'all start to hone in on galleries. Yous've got to have your own website too. It is expected and is a sign of your professionalism.

half-dozen. Understand the Commission Construction

Artists often complain to me about having to pay a gallery twoscore to lx%. I think that'due south really the wrong fashion to look at it. They're not taking annihilation from you lot, they're bringing yous clients, so pay your commissions joyfully. Nevertheless, you lot desire to brand certain that if they are taking a big percentage, they are earning it and giving a lot more than in exchange.

Hammer out what a gallery is going to practice for you as far equally public relations and marketing in contract negotiations. If they're getting half, you lot want to brand certain they earn information technology. You lot want to know what they're doing to make sure your art gets in front of the right people. Only, at the same time yous need to practise your bit too.

seven. Remember That Failure Is Never Permanent

Call up that failing to get into a gallery just means information technology didn't work out this fourth dimension. Vik Muniz is an creative person who's had incredible success in the art earth and he said to me once, "When I succeed, it's that time I failed to fail." You have to fail a hundred times before y'all succeed, so simply focus on failing better. Don't take it personally and don't quit. Effigy out what went incorrect, what you could exercise ameliorate, and repeat.

Want to Learn More from Crista?

Crista has much more than advice on the business of fine art on her brilliant blog and in her newsletter. Her article on How to Sell Your Art is a fantastic place to start and be certain to sign up for her newsletter hither.

Consider Yourself a Become-Getter? Sign up for Crista'due south Working Artist Masterclass. Form starts Nov. 16th, 2015, only registration is open until Nov. 20th, 2015. Don't miss this groovy opportunity to gain valuable skills and knowledge to fast track your art career! Artwork Archive members who use the special coupon code Annal will receive $37 off the registration fee for this session. Learn more here.

Desire to Organize and Grow Your Art Business organization and Receive More Art Career Tips? Sign Upward for Free Here.