How Do Artists Get Exhibitions? The Real Steps Nobody Talks About

Most people think artists just wait around until a gallery magically spots their work. That’s not even close. Getting an exhibition is all about putting in the work, connecting with real people, and showing art that actually speaks to someone.

Forget fancy credentials or waiting for fate. The first step? Make art constantly—finishing projects and building a body of work that’s easy to show, both in person and online. Keep your best pieces ready, so when someone says, “Show me what you do,” you’re not scrambling to find decent photos.

You don’t need to be famous, and you definitely don’t need family connections. What grabs attention more than anything is honesty and consistency in what you make—and knowing how to share it. Gallerists, curators, and even small coffee shops look for artists who have vision, work hard, and can talk about their process without sounding fake.

• What Galleries Really Look For
• Building a Portfolio That Gets Noticed
• Networking Without Feeling Awkward
• Using Social Media and Online Platforms
• Dealing with Rejection and Staying Motivated
• Alternatives to Traditional Galleries

What Galleries Really Look For

You might think galleries just chase after something "deep" or whatever is trendy. Actually, they want a mix of things that keep their business going and their walls interesting. The main thing? They want art that fits their vibe—and that means knowing each gallery has its own taste.

If you walk into five galleries in your city, you’ll probably notice totally different styles. Some focus on edgy, new media work, and others want landscape paintings that can actually sell. Most places want artists who aren’t one-hit wonders. They like to see a clear thread running through your work—a style, subject, or attitude that feels like you.

Here’s what matters most when you’re aiming for a art exhibitions spot:

• Quality & Consistency: One great piece won’t cut it. Your portfolio needs to show you can deliver again and again.
• Professionalism: This means responding to emails, meeting deadlines, and being someone people want to work with. Reliability counts just as much as talent.
• Clear Voice: Curators want to see if your art has a point of view that stands out—not just a mix of random styles.
• Audience Connection: Galleries have to sell art to survive. If your work connects with people and gets them talking (or buying), you’re much more appealing.
• Relevant Themes: Is your work tackling something fresh, important, or timely? That matters for a lot of spaces these days.

To put some stats to it, a 2024 survey by Art Basel found that about 65% of galleries picked artists based on the “originality of portfolio” and “commitment to their practice.” Only 18% said they prioritized an artist’s formal education or degrees.

Bottom line: skip gimmicks and focus on showing who you are as an artist—through your work and how you handle yourself. That’s what gets noticed when galleries are choosing what to hang next.

Building a Portfolio That Gets Noticed

If your dream is to land art exhibitions, your portfolio needs to do some heavy lifting. It’s your handshake, your first impression, and sometimes the only thing a curator will see before making a decision. Sloppy, incomplete, or scattered portfolios just get ignored.

First off, keep your portfolio tight. Show your best ten to fifteen pieces. That’s it. No one wants to scroll through forty images just to figure out what you’re about. Curators love a portfolio that tells a visual story, so group your works by theme, style, or technique. This helps your vision stand out and shows that you have a direction, not just random experiments.

Every image should be high-res, well-lit, and clear—no exceptions. Blurry photos and weird shadows make even good art look bad. If you don’t have a camera that does the job, use your phone in good daylight, and download a basic photo-editing app to tweak the brightness and colors so they look true to life.

• Add short, honest descriptions for each piece. Keep it direct—what’s the work about, what materials did you use, and when was it made? Avoid pretentious language. Curators can spot forced jargon from a mile away.
• Extras like a quick artist bio, contact info, and an updated CV matter. But don’t stick your whole life story in there. Mention recent shows, major group exhibitions, awards (if you have them), and anything that looks legit on paper.
• If you’re putting this online (which you should), platforms like Behance, your personal website, or even a clean Instagram grid work. Always double-check links and make sure everything loads properly—nobody’s chasing you for broken URLs.

One mistake most beginners make is mixing in unfinished or old student work just to have more pages. Resist. Only show pieces that you’re proud of, and that match your current style. If you wouldn’t hang it at your own show, leave it out.

Networking Without Feeling Awkward

Okay, so meeting new people in the art world feels weird for almost everyone, especially if you don’t love small talk. But here’s the thing—most connections in art exhibitions happen not from secret handshakes, but from simple, honest conversations. You don’t need to act like a salesperson or change who you are.

Start small. Show up at local openings, even if you’re by yourself. Stand near an artwork you genuinely like. Comments like “I love the colors in this” or “This piece reminds me of…” are easy openers, and most artists or gallery folks appreciate genuine interest. Don’t pitch your work in the first minute—just focus on getting to know people.

If you want to ease the jitters, bring a friend or set a goal (like talking to three people, max). Most people at events are open to quick chats and you’ll stand out by actually paying attention instead of pressing your business card into every hand.

Follow up is where most artists drop the ball. Did you meet someone interesting? Send a short message or email a few days later. Thank them for the chat and mention something specific you discussed. That’s it. No hard sell—just a real connection.

• Listen more than you talk. People remember if you seem interested in their work or stories.
• Show up consistently. Familiar faces get remembered more easily.
• Bring a simple business card—no need for gold foil or anything complicated. Digital portfolios can be shared quickly if someone is interested.
• If you’re nervous, remember: most people feel the same. Initiating a friendly conversation already puts you ahead of the crowd.

If in-person feels impossible, art communities on platforms like Instagram and Discord also create real friendships. Share other artists’ work, comment thoughtfully (not just “nice!”), and respond if someone slides into your DMs with a compliment. These low-key contacts add up, and suddenly, you’re not alone in the room anymore.

Using Social Media and Online Platforms

If you want an art exhibitions gig, don’t sleep on social media. Seriously, most curators, gallerists, and even buyers spend hours scrolling Instagram, TikTok, or Pinterest looking for cool work. According to a 2024 report from the Art Basel and UBS Art Market, 57% of younger art collectors first find artists through Instagram. That’s wild, but it makes sense—everyone has their phone on them, all the time.

If you’re not sure which platforms to focus on, here’s the rundown: Instagram is still the champ for artists. Stories, Reels, and posts all help you show your art, your process, and even announce open studios or solo shows. TikTok is catching up fast, especially if you’re good with quick behind-the-scenes clips. Don’t overlook LinkedIn for connecting with curators and event organizers—artists use it way more than people think. And for portfolio sites, Behance and ArtStation (for digital stuff) still matter.

• Post regularly, but don’t spam. One solid post every couple of days is better than dumping your week’s worth in an hour.
• Show your process, not just the finished work. Folks love seeing the steps and mess-ups—it makes you human and more memorable.
• Use relevant hashtags, but keep them specific. #ArtExhibition, #YourCityArt, #AbstractPainting, or #EmergingArtist help real people find you.
• Jump into conversations. Comment on other artists’ posts, reply to DMs from galleries, and always thank people who shout you out.
• Tag venues or galleries you want to work with (but don’t be annoying). If your work fits their style, they might notice you.

Besides general tips, there are online platforms that specialize in connecting artists with exhibition opportunities:

• ArtConnect and CuratorSpace let you apply for open calls and residencies directly.
• Saatchi Art and Artsy let you list and sell art, which sometimes leads to gallery invitations if your work takes off.
• Eventbrite and Meetup sometimes list local pop-up shows looking for new artists—doesn’t hurt to check every week.

Take a look at this table to see which platforms are most popular with gallerists and curators in 2025:

Bottom line? Social media isn’t just for showing off—it’s your best shot at landing that dream exhibition, especially if you combine it with applying to legit calls on actual art platforms. Show up consistently, get your work out there, and you might just scroll your way into your next big show.

Dealing with Rejection and Staying Motivated

Every artist who’s ever gotten their work into a gallery has faced rejection—more often than they’ll admit. It’s just part of the job. Even big names, like Vincent van Gogh, got hundreds of rejections before their work found an audience. If you’ve been turned down by galleries or group shows, it doesn’t automatically mean your art is bad. Sometimes the style doesn’t fit, or the gallery already has a packed schedule.

What really matters is how you handle those “no’s.” The trick is to turn rejection into fuel. Tons of artists keep a spreadsheet or notebook to track where they’ve applied and what feedback they get, if any. This way, you notice patterns—are certain types of places giving more responses or does your approach need some work?

Networking helps you here too. When a gallery passes, politely ask for feedback or keep the door open for the future. Most curators appreciate artists who are persistent but respectful. If you do get feedback, treat it like gold. Maybe your photos need work, or your artist statement is too long. It’s easier to fix those than to quit altogether.

Staying motivated is its own battle. A lot of artists set mini goals—like finishing a new piece every month or connecting with one new artist each week. Celebrating small wins (even getting a response back) keeps morale up.

• Remember, even the most famous art exhibitions sometimes start from a local café or community center. Don’t look down on smaller spaces—they build real audiences.
• Connect with other artists. Share stories about rejection. Hearing you’re not alone makes a huge difference.
• Give yourself permission to take breaks. Plowing ahead non-stop only leads to burnout.
• Stay open to different types of shows—community events, pop-up galleries, or online juried exhibitions all count.

If you have a rough week, it’s totally normal. Keep making work, keep showing up. Progress happens one small win at a time—and the art world has plenty of space for anyone tough enough to stick around.

Alternatives to Traditional Galleries

You don’t have to beg a white-walled gallery to show your work anymore. Tons of artists are skipping the old-school route, and they’re getting real eyes on their art in places you probably walk past every day.

Cafés, bars, restaurants, and coworking spaces have become hotspots for pop-up shows. These spots love fresh work—they get cool décor, and you get a crowd that never steps inside a gallery. Artist-run spaces and collectives are another real option. You chip in for rent or volunteer your time, and in return, you get control over how you show and sell your stuff. This is where lots of artists launch their careers and find a crew that actually cares about their vision.

• Online platforms like Saatchi Art and Artsy make it possible to show and sell work worldwide. Anyone with a smartphone can flip through your art without needing to live in a big city. Did you know Saatchi Art has over 1.6 million social media followers? That’s more than many top brick-and-mortar galleries combined.
• Temporary or “pop-up” exhibitions held in empty shops, warehouses, or even Airbnb rentals are a game-changer. These shows often create buzz and get written up in local blogs and news sites, giving you way more exposure than you think.
• Local art fairs and markets let you meet buyers face-to-face. According to the US National Endowment for the Arts, about 34% of Americans attended a visual arts event or fair in the last year, which means there’s a huge willing crowd looking for new names.

If you’re serious about getting your work seen, mixing up these channels works best. Some of the most talked-about artists at art exhibitions last year started in living rooms or online, not fancy galleries.

So, if traditional galleries keep slamming the door, build your own. There’s never been a better time to get creative about where you show your art—or who gets to see it.