Tips for Solo Exhibitions

By Kate Orr

Have you considered having your own solo exhibition?

First, I want to encourage you to pursue your ideas and dreams! That’s what being an artist is all about.

Before I ever had my own solo show, I had multiple ideas I was so excited about but anxious about how successful they would be. Some friends encouraged me, and some warned me of the risks.

So far, I have had three solo exhibitions, and each one has been an immense amount of work yet an exhilarating experience.

Here is what I’ve learned along the way!

Don’t Compare Your Show to Others, Be Inspired By Them

This, of course, applies far beyond solo shows, but it is such a freeing reminder. Look at other solo shows of varying sizes, themes, approaches, etc. Note what elements you would like to incorporate into planning your own show! Some solo exhibitions display ten pieces, while one of my friends has painted over 100!

Know Your Audience

Having your own exhibition is undoubtedly an expense. Framing alone can easily cost you thousands of dollars, so unless you have other income making a profit is crucial.

You can probably relate to me when I say I am not generally business-minded. Money isn’t a fun topic for me, and thinking of profit/expense etc. stresses me out. Yet as a full-time artist, I do have to give it some consideration.

Will your show be at a coffee shop or a high-end gallery? What kind of people will be attending, i.e. wealthy collectors or young couples looking for a date night?

Communicate with your venue if they’ve hosted prior exhibitions, and ask them what price range they generally sell the most of.

Depending on these factors, you could have far greater success pricing your work from $100-400 and sell more, rather than gambling on selling a few $4,000 paintings. Naturally, this decision is up to you, and you should feel comfortable with the prices you choose. Since selling my art is how I make my living, this approach has helped me immensely with maintaining a consistent income.

Give Yourself Plenty of Time

We artists aren’t generally known for being ahead of schedule; often when I see ‘deadline’ it subconsciously translates to ‘the day I need to finish.’

When it comes to preparing for your own show, no matter how ambitious it is, you should prepare as far ahead of time as possible - trust me!

If you are reaching out to venues yourself, try to contact them at least a year in advance. If a gallery is contacting you, they will probably give you at least six months notice ahead of time. Please don’t make the same mistake I have where I’ve waited until three months before the opening to begin painting for it!

Frames, inventory, labels, promotions - everything will be accomplished much more smoothly with ample time. Try to have everything - from your paintings being varnished and framed to your inventory being complete - finished at least a week ahead of your opening. This will help with any hiccups or issues you may run into and prevent undue stress.

Remember You Aren't Alone

There will always be people you can ask for help - whether it’s friends who will come to support you opening night or venue staff who want to help make everything go smoothly. The more people you have around to help you, the more rewarding your experience will be. Showing genuine gratitude for support reinforces it.

I hope you find these tips helpful and empowering for your next solo exhibition! Please always feel free to reach out to me with questions, and let me know if this article has helped you! Thank you for reading, and happy painting!