Selling art at events: types of art shows

EVENT MARKETING AND COMMUNITY

Selling art at events is the fastest way to advance your art business. But there are many different types of events for artists and they all seem to blend together. For every different type of artist, there’s a different type of show. So let’s get into the details of art event categories, what happens and where they take place.

EXHIBITIONS

Selling art at events labeled as exhibitions means it’s in a gallery setting. A nice one, usually.

Typically how exhibitions work is you will not set up a table here, but your artwork will be framed and hung on the wall by a curator, whose job it is to arrange the gallery in an aesthetic way. 

Then you’ll have an opening night, where all the artists show up for an initial reception. A ton of guests affiliated with the gallery, other local artists and friends attend. Usually they serve drinks or light snacks. There’s a host who presents the artists with a few introductory words and maybe someone will get up and make a speech explaining the art.

The artwork can be high brow but not always. High brow artwork fits best into an exhibition setting because it’s more valuable and galleries take precautions against damaging the artwork, verbally honoring the value of the pieces, and also explaining the concepts that create meaning for the art in the opening reception speech. 

Galleries are fluid spaces though, meaning not all galleries or art venues cater to high brow. Some showcase more low brow, street art, or genre specific works. Some are show specific, meaning it depends on the event.

After the opening reception, the exhibit will go on for a few weeks, and they’ll leave it all hanging up so anyone who visits the gallery during their normal open hours can see it. During regular times galleries are always open for some awkward timeframe like 10am-1pm and 3pm-5pm. (Not hating, just telling facts!) Opening nights are more likely to be nights and weekends.

Selling your artwork at a gallery exhibition is an achievement and a good time! If you land a solo show, that’s a badge of honor in the art world, akin to receiving an award. 

POP UPS

These can be in local stores, where you literally pop up a little table in the lobby and sell your artwork there for the day. Selling art at events labeled pop ups are quick and beneficial for everyone. The store loves it because you promote the store, you love it because you benefit from the store’s natural foot traffic. The customers love it because they get an extra surprise when they walk in the door. 

Sometimes they make whole events about it with multiple artists, sometimes they only have enough floorspace for one pop up shop. They’re very casual.

The best pop ups are ones that are niche. For instance, if you sell embroidered hair scrunchies, setting up a pop up table inside a hair salon would be a GREAT match. The clients coming into the salon would be more likely to be interested in what you’re selling than the average person who maybe doesn’t put that much effort into their hair. It’s on-brand for everyone. The same could be said for a ceramic pot maker setting up inside a gardening store. Potted plants are a big hit. Very niche and appropriate for the setting. 

Selling art at events in the category of “pop up” is usually something you fall into because you know someone, the shop owner posts something on social media inquiring about it, or you ask the shop if they’d like to have you. It’s very casual, meaning it’s not going to be found on a site listing art show applications and you don’t have to be professionally nominated.

ART SHOWS

Disclaimer: I use the term “art shows” to refer to ANY of the events listed in this article. It’s very much a euphemism, similar to how we use the word “car” even though we could be referring to any motor vehicle. At the same time, we know what a car is vs a truck. The term art show functions the same way.

Art shows are like pop ups but more planned out. Someone makes a flyer about it. An organizer will make a Facebook event for it. People mark it on their calendars.

 It’s usually at a bar or an event venue that can fit 5-50 artists. Selling art at events labeled as an art show might mean guests pay a fee to get in or have to buy a pass for entry. Think of it like a concert: to come see the show you buy a ticket. 

It’s also similar to a concert in that there are established artists sitting next to first-timers. Art shows are the perfect place to sell at your first event!

ARTIST MARKETS OR FAIRS

I would classify markets and fairs to be the same thing. These are the events that are most likely to be outside with the artists under 10’x10′ white tents and the concession stands in the summertime. A lot of times the city will put it on every year. 

Selling art at events known as markets or fairs means you’ll be sending in an application before attending, because there are always special requirements. Many don’t allow reproductions of any kind (which includes prints) and a lot exclude mediums like digital art. I understand the desire to promote original pieces, but it excludes little ole me. It might exclude you too. Make sure to check before filling out the whole application.

Fairs also charge a fee for booth space. The larger the space, or if you need electrical hookup, the larger the fee. 

Since they’re outdoors you need to provide your own tent and prepare for possible rain. You’ll need to match certain requirements for what type of tent, weights, and equipment you bring. 

Selling your art at these events is worth the work for the amount of people who show up. Crowds are large and cities often block off whole streets to accommodate the event.

FESTIVALS

Like fairs or markets, festivals also happen every year, and are often outside, but they’re like the dad of art markets — the grown up version. 

Festivals are usually more than one weekend or they’re an entire week long. They’re heavily planned far in advance.

They inspire a dedicated fan base who come back time and time again. Festivals always surround a niche or theme that unites people. In that regard, they bring a lot of people out to the event. That’s marketing traffic for you. But it’s niche, like the pop up events. Meaning it’s best to sell art at festivals that align with your artwork. 

For instance, Electric Forest is an annual festival. It’s based around EDM and techno music, but it has also become known for installation art as well as artists who vend there. It spans two weekends. People who go every year talk about meeting up with their “forest family” and they all dress up in bright psychedelic outfits when they attend. It’s very popular, very niche, and perfect for trippy-styled artists.

Another example: The Renaissance Festival is known for artwork themed around the 14th to 17th century. Think vikings, medieval drawings, witchy artwork, knights and castles. It’s 7 weekends in Michigan but they have festivals all around the country that are longer. And instead of booths with pop-up tables there are full-on permanent structures that are built outside for vendors to set up shop in. There’s a large number of people who come and a dedicated fan base.

LIVE PAINTING SHOWS

These are events where the artists are painting in real time at the event. It’s a performance as much as it is a shopping situation. 

You’ll have your table with art products, hang framed work on the wall and sell just like other art shows, but you also will set up an easel and get to work. 

Customers enjoy watching the artists go through their creative process right in front of their eyes and it can be a selling point. People feel connected to artwork when they get to watch it be made! Not only will they go home with a painting, but also a cool memory.

This is perfect for artists who aren’t shy but also don’t love talking to customers or selling. You get to interact but the act of painting can replace conversation. For me, I never do live painting events. I love talking to people and I cannot paint and talk at the same time! But I know artists who love selling art at events that include performance painting.

DIY SHOWS

These are in people’s basements. Not every time, but don’t be surprised if it is!! The weirdest, best, most experimental artwork goes on here. 

In New Mexico I went to one where this girl organized a few houses on her block to be a part of a show. One artist set up tables in her backyard. Another had a whole studio in her garage. I set up my booth in her driveway. All the neighbors walked through and shopped, and I was surprised how many people came for this strangely located event. 

I’ve done DIY shows at skateparks, basements, people’s houses, and more. 

It’s a do-it-yourself attitude. Anywhere the artist can host is where it’s hosted. No one is a professional organizer, they don’t have access to a large venue, and they really want to make it work anyway. It would be rare to find a high-brow artist at a DIY event, unless it’s a secret show (which makes it cooler). Low brow is the name of the game with DIY. 

These are perfect events for a first-timer because you really can’t mess it up. Anything goes usually. But they can be hard to get into if you don’t know anyone, since it’s typically invite only – it’s a no applications, minimal planning, short-notice vibe. 

SELLING ART AT EVENTS THAT ARE A MIX

Sometimes you get a two in one. These categories are very fluid and not set in stone, so many events are a mix. 

One time I had a group exhibition at Riopelle gallery in Detroit. It was an exhibition at a gallery. They required me to drop off the artwork framed and ready to hang. The curator curated the show so on the day of, all you had to do was show up. There was wine, snacks, and a brief introduction to all the artists.

BUT it was part of a wider art fair, Eastern Market After Dark, which is a district wide fair celebrating all the murals painted during the mural festival. It’s held every year and all the studios in the area offer open studio exhibitions. People gallery hop, seeing all kinds of artists and murals in between. It’s super cool. So it doesn’t include white tents but instead uses galleries. 

THE ART COMMUNITY IS BLENDED

There’s a lot of blending in the art community. I feel it’s good to know the “rules” before breaking and bending them. If you’re on the outside looking in, I know the article has been helpful for you. If you’re on the inside reading this, I’m sure you’ll notice there’s so much culture left out! But whole books could be written on art show practices and etiquette and what to expect. This grazes the surface.

If you want to dig deeper into art shows, I did write a book for beginners: The Complete Guide to Your First Art Show. You can download it and read it in an afternoon.

Join the group of artists who are selling art at events and find out what all the fuss is about!