How would someone go about getting their artwork shown in a gallery? Is a degree required or can talent help?

Answer 1

Talent is the only thing that counts in the art world. The key in becoming successful is to work as hard at your artwork as a bricklayer works. Once you have a body of work then you need to find a gallery that has a history of showing work in whatever medium/media and style you have chosen to express yourself.

I'm going to add one caveat: going to art school will help you learn skills and techniques that are invaluable. Places such as the School of the Museum of Fine Art in Boston offer diploma programs. In the end, however, it is talent and a willingness to beat the pavement and bear the ego-busting, "No's," from overworked gallery directors are what will make you succeed.

No amount of marketing or fancy degree will make you successful if you don't have talent and a product people are willing to pay money for.

Answer 2

As a professional artist who is published and shown/sold her work in galleries world wide for 40 years, I would say no one gives a rip about your digree. Art galleries are a business. They are in the business of selling art. Some galleries just sell wall decorations and framing and more giclee prints than anything else. these smaller galleries sometimes will look at a new local artist if your art is current and not too pricey.
Other galleries have high overhead and need to be able to sell original paintings at large prices so they can pay the rent which often is over $10,000 a month. In order to justify the prices the artist needs to have a national or international name. That means being published by a major publisher.
People buy art to put on their wall to decorate their homes or offices. People buy art to go with the sofa the dinning room table,and the master bedroom. People buy original art because they love the painting and it will look great in their home. It is decore. So if your artwork is either oil or acrylic, on canvass and at least 30x40 in size thats a plus. If it is in the current colors, has the subjects that are hot right now, and is professionally done, thats a plus. If you have submitted art to several publishers and have tried to get some prints contracts that is a good start.
If you have a theme of subjects, or whats called a consistant body of work that is identifyable that is a plus. Most artists are all over the map, they paint a horse, then a city scape, or a lunch box and some other wierd thing that catches their attention. Successful artists specialize in tecniques and subjects and paint from that starting place with the end comsumer in mind.
get the book The Mystery of Making it, by Jack White which has a hundred pages of this kind of advice. www.jackwhiteartist.com and down load his book It is worth 10 college art degrees.

Answer 3

It depends where you live! LOL!

In Canada at the moment, a degree and even a masters degree are very important. I am a visual artist with a thirty year professional practice. I'm telling you, it does make a difference!I went for part of this career without a degree.

You will not be excepted as a legitimate Contemporary Artist in Canada at this point in time without that education unless you are older and from a part of our the Canadian cultural fabric where there is another tradition you are drawing on like the older First Nations artists, West Coast Artists have a long formal tradition of art. The younger people are getting the degree! So look out!

I now have the degree and wish to do a masters program. They are extremly academic programs! Insanely so!They want top grades in art history and art theory. Youth is on your side though! If you are a minority or an imigrant that will also help you.

You do have to work like a dog! I do. I have made sacrefices most people would never make for their work. On top of it all, I am a poor single parent! You have to be relentless and literally become fearless in your work.

I encourage you to further your education. If University isn't for you try art college. The Ontario College of Art and Design is fantastic so is the Nova Scotia School of Art and Design. I've heard the Art College in Calgary Alberta is good too. So endure! I loved OCAD. I wouldn't mind going back! LOL!

You can get into small commercial galleries without the education. If you are young the chances of you getting into a good gallery are small without that education though! The days of off the street discovery of great talent are gone. For now anyway.

There are a lot of suido artists being baught by publishing houses. Argh. Exploited...maybe. They are highly commercialised. I guess you have to explore who you are and be true to that.

So if you have a body of work...twenty artworks at least, good digetal images on a CD or slides of that work, submit them to a few galleries in your area and see what happens. You need a CV and perhaps an artists statement.

Really it sounds like you need someone to sit down and go over the work you have and give you feed back. If it is negative, get more opinions. Still, if your young ask yourself how much this pursuite is worth to you. It is a hard life where most of us don't earn much money. The US is different. I have been told by several people I would do better there or in Europe. Canada has huge talent but we treat it like its nothing.

Good luck! I am grateful I am an artist..so it isn't all bad!I love who I am!

Peace and I wish you the very best.

Answer 4

Talent in sort of a deal-breaker.

But marketing and marketability are everything.

A degree helps, because it gives you credibility.

Networking -- other artists, art associations, gallery people -- is your most valuable tool.

Get your stuff in any art competition or show you can find in your area, join local art associations, go to as many gallery shows as you can (preferably openings and/or events). Get a booth at street festivals. Whatever it takes.

Be prepared -- have business cards with a link to an online portfolio.

Have an actual portfolio, as well as copies that can be left at galleries.

Know your work -- if you are doing abstraction, do not approach a gallery that features Thomas Kincaid (of course, that is also the sign that it is not a gallery, but a wannabe).

Always be prepared to discuss your work, and jump on any opportunity that comes your way.

If you can offer private lessons through an art association, do. The sort of people who want to take art lessons from an artist are usually people with money who can later introduce you to other people.

If you are just starting out, it can take a few years to become established.

Don't give up, and don't stop believing in yourself and your art.

Answer 5

I've never tried it but I assume that talent, and possibly either an eye for what style is selling or will be in the future, should be all you need. A degree of some sort *might* be impressive to some gallery owners but I'm pretty sure that, ultimately, it's the talent that counts and they don't really care if you got it through endless hours of trial and error or a formal education.

Call up a gallery and find out who looks over and accepts new works. Then bring your stuff in and let them take a look.

Good luck!

Answer 6

First you have to have artwork that is interesting to someone other than yourself. I'd like to say talent helps, but there are many untalented artists who have found galleries to show their work. Having a degree can often get you in touch with the right people.

Answer 7

forget about a degree, artwork is a talent i feel that by walking around with your profilio of your work and start hitting this galleries up start speaking to workers and owners show your work around!! cant be discovered if you dont explore...

good luck

Answer 8

Call the gallery where you want to show your work and ask your questions.

Answer 9

You need connections. You dont need a degree... though, the do show commitment and the drive to make yourself better. Consider it..