A long and strange year ended on a high note. Two of my works were selected to be part of the Something for Everyone exhibition at the 311 Gallery in downtown Raleigh, NC. Applying to exhibitions and galleries has been a learning experience.  First and foremost, I have learned I need to engage with gallery managers prior to submitting work for consideration, to learn who their clientele is and what sells and what does not in their gallery.  The jury for an exhibition or the gallery will likely have a variety of criteria they will be assessing.  When selecting artists and works the jury will look at quality and workmanship, design aesthetic, subject, and the message or emotion of the work. In the end, if the goal is to sell the work, it needs to align with the tastes and needs of the potential buyers that will frequent the venue.

When applying for representation at a gallery on the coast, I selected a collection of pieces that represented a truly cohesive body of work. They were artistically interesting black and white images which I had produced as gallery wrap canvas prints.  Although the jury was impressed with the quality of the work, my submission was not selected as it was deemed to not be readily salable in the gallery.  Speaking with the gallery manager after having my work deferred, I learned that when it comes to photography, their clientele are vacationers that are looking to take a piece of the beach home with them.  As such, the work that sells has a very recognizable subject, vibrant colors, and is presented as a traditionally matted and framed photograph.  With this learning in hand my next submission to the gallery will be a collection of color images of life and moments along the Outer Banks, rather than the coastal themed black and white canvases that were deferred.

Collection of B&W image deferred by a gallery

Despite the COVID restrictions, the 311 Gallery was able to hold a socially distanced opening for the Something for Everyone exhibition.  During that evening event I spoke not only with the gallery owner, but easily half a dozen other artists to learn what I could from their collective experience.  The common message was clear, be persistent and expect that it will take time to build the following and find the gallery(ies) that are a good fit for my work.  I am grateful for the support and information provided by everyone I have encountered thus far in my nascent art career.

As I look ahead, I have already applied to two other local exhibitions and have plans to apply to many more as the opportunities arise.  I have also joined several artist groups to further expand my network and become more active in the Triangle arts community.  Check back for future blog posts to for updates on my artist’s journey.