How to Get a Solo Exhibition: 3 Ways to Land Your Own Art Show

[@springnicole]

I had a solo exhibition back in 2013 and it was because I was talking to a girl who was cleaning at the library about my art. She told me I needed to talk to her boss who ran the local civic center. A few months later, I had a solo show. Thanks for sharing your experience.

[@christinakentart]

That’s such a great story! Sometimes the most unexpected connections lead to the best opportunities.

[@mauracarta.]

Three solo shows in one 12 month period - you rock, Christina!

[@christinakentart]

Thank you!

[@kathleen_rietz_artist]

That’s fabulous!! So exciting and inspiring!

[@christinakentart]

Thank you!

[@mevlidasofic9131]

❤ thank you

[@jamesmeyer1325]

Great video - lots of good ideas for a new artist. Keep up the good work!

[@christinakentart]

Thank you so much, I'm happy you liked the video!

[@debbielyons2796]

This was such great information as always. Thank you so much!🤗🎨🖌🙌👏👏

[@christinakentart]

So glad you found it helpful! :)

[@rogerbrownart]

Very good insights, also shows importance of continually painting and building up a good collection of artwork so when an opportunity for an exhibition does come up one does have something to submit.

[@christinakentart]

Exactly, it’s good to be ready when that opportunity comes!

[@oursublimealabamalife9689]

Great information and a beautiful smile!

[@AezlyndWanderin]

Love the ideas. What are your thoughts about posting art on instagram now, with the AI scraping, now though?

[@christinakentart]

Thank you! And that’s a great question, I’ve been struggling with this a lot recently. I really don’t like the changes Instagram has been making. I feel like it is harder and harder for artists to get exposure on the platform, and one can spend so much time making content with no payoff. The AI scraping is extremely frustrating as well. It makes me want to quit Instagram entirely. And yet, I stay on the platform, since I still have many galleries, collectors, and artists that I interact with solely through Instagram. Im trying to change that, but for now, I’m not ready to leave.

[@AezlyndWanderin]

@@christinakentart I completely understand. The AI scraping was announced the very day that I was planning to start a presence on instagram and the news hit me like a ton of bricks. I’ve thought about Cara, which I do have an account on, but I’m not sure I trust that either. Nightshade and glaze are nice until you realize that all someone has to do to undo those is to resize the image. With vector resizing improvements even posting in a low resolution isn’t protection any more. I hate the thought of having to watermark but I might not be able to help it. Right now I’m thinking our best bets may be to have our own websites with add ons that block the AI scrapers and other stealing methods and also having a presence here on KZbin and then to use instagram as just a way of driving traffic to our sites and channels.

[@matineesonmainstreet2005]

Congratulations!!! On last week's video, you mentioned emerging artist galleries, and I think I'm going to take that route. I have my brother investigating some of those places in Chicago, as the gallery scene in the city I live near has pretty much dried up.

[@christinakentart]

That’s a great strategy, good luck!!

[@imexplode]

If you want to do your own solo show how do you do that if you don’t have the network or audience to invite? I mean if you don’t know people that might be buyers, how do you do a show? Thank you. .

[@christinakentart]

Great question! Hosting your own solo show is pretty risky if you don’t already have an audience or large network. One option would be to pay for advertising online and in magazines, but there is no guarantee that these would work. However, I know people who have found creative ways to do their own solo show with less financial risk. For example, a friend was moving out of her apartment, and after clearing the furniture out, she did a one-day solo show there. I thought this was a great idea!

[@anthonyw2931]

great answer from Christina. Adding to that, I'd say instead of thinking gallery solo show, collabs (and not just with other artists) are good too for starters. Approaching coffee shops and other local establishments (office, restaurants etc) are a way to get started. If you know a friend who is more of an extrovert to help you approach them would be a plus. That is, if you're not one.