5 Tips to Make Your Solo Gallery Show a Success

In my twenty years as a full-time professional Canadian artist, I have participated in solo exhibitions across the country. From public galleries and museums to commercial galleries and artist-run spaces, I have had the opportunity to exhibit my work in a wide variety of settings.

Over the years, I have been contracted to exhibit in galleries, worked with galleries on consignment, and organized exhibitions in different parts of Canada. Each experience has taught me something about what goes into making a solo exhibition successful.

A successful solo show is about more than creating a collection of paintings and putting them on a wall. It involves thoughtful selection, planning, presentation, and, perhaps most importantly, building good relationships with the gallery and the people who work there.

Whether you are preparing for your first solo exhibition or have several under your belt, here are five tips that can help make your next gallery show a success.

1. Less Is More

When it comes to hanging a solo exhibition, inexperienced artists sometimes believe that showing as much work as possible is the best way to introduce themselves and communicate the scope of their practice. In reality, the opposite is often true.

Too much work on the walls can overwhelm viewers and make it difficult to identify the central theme or narrative of an exhibition. A carefully edited selection of work creates a stronger visual statement and gives each individual piece room to breathe.

Be selective. Aim to show the fewest works necessary to communicate your story effectively. Think about how the paintings relate to one another, how they move a viewer through the space, and what you want people to take away from the experience.

White space is your friend. It allows viewers to pause, consider individual works, and absorb the exhibition as a whole. Remember, you are not trying to show everything you have ever made. You are creating an experience for the viewer.

2. Make a Blueprint

Before selecting and shipping work for an exhibition, ask the gallery for a floor plan with accurate wall measurements. This is one of the most useful tools you can have when planning a solo show.

With the measurements in hand, you can begin mapping out the exhibition, determining how many works will comfortably fit, where larger pieces should go, and how the overall presentation will flow.

I recommend creating a mock-up of the gallery walls, including the dimensions of each painting. This gives the curator or gallery installer a visual reference and a starting point for hanging the exhibition.

Of course, things can change once the work arrives and the gallery team begins installing the show. A curator may move a few pieces around to improve the flow or respond to the physical space. That is perfectly normal.

The goal isn't to dictate every detail of the installation. It is to provide a thoughtful plan that communicates your vision and makes the installation process easier for everyone involved.

3. Know the Gallery

Do your homework before you exhibit. Familiarize yourself with the gallery, its exhibition history, its audience, and the artists it represents or has previously shown.

If possible, visit the gallery several months to a year before your exhibition. Pay attention to the physical space, the way work is installed, the lighting, and the types of exhibitions that attract visitors.

Follow the gallery online, subscribe to its newsletter, and attend openings if you are within travelling distance. Look at photographs of previous exhibitions and get a sense of the people who visit and collect from that space.

Understanding the gallery and its audience can help you make better decisions about the work you select. It also helps you establish a relationship with the gallery before your exhibition opens.

A solo show should be a good fit for both the artist and the gallery. The more you understand the space and its audience, the better positioned you will be to create an exhibition that resonates.

4. Show Up on Time

This might seem obvious, but respecting delivery dates, shipping deadlines, and installation schedules is an important part of being a professional artist.

When delivering or shipping your work, make sure it arrives within the gallery's specified timeframe. If you are delivering in person, confirm the date and time in advance. If you are shipping, allow enough time for unexpected delays.

Gallery staff and curators are often juggling multiple exhibitions, artists, installations, administrative responsibilities, and public events. Their schedules are busy, and the last thing they need is an artist who makes the process more complicated than it needs to be.

Being organized, reliable, responsive, and easy to work with goes a long way. Galleries remember artists who make their jobs easier, and these professional relationships can lead to future exhibitions and opportunities.

You are building a reputation with every exhibition. Make sure it is a good one.

5. Provide an Image List

Before your work arrives at the gallery, prepare a comprehensive image list with a thumbnail of each artwork and all the relevant details.

Include:

• An image of each artwork

• Title

• Year completed

• Medium

• Dimensions

• Retail price

This simple document is incredibly helpful during installation. The gallery can use it to identify each piece, organize the hanging sequence, and prepare accurate wall labels and price lists.

An image list also helps prevent mistakes, particularly when you are exhibiting a large number of works or several paintings have similar titles or dimensions.

One additional point: providing an image list helps protect your artwork during installation. Gallery staff should not need to attach sticky notes, labels, or other materials directly to the front or edges of your paintings to identify them. Your accompanying documentation should make that unnecessary.

A little preparation on your part can prevent unnecessary handling and help ensure your work is presented professionally.

A Successful Solo Show Is About More Than the Art

These five tips might seem simple, but they can make a considerable difference to the experience of exhibiting your work.

After twenty years of working with galleries, I have learned that a successful solo exhibition is the result of good artwork, thoughtful presentation, organization, and strong professional relationships.

Your exhibition is an opportunity to introduce your work to new audiences, connect with collectors, build relationships with curators, and strengthen your reputation as an artist. Treat every exhibition as an opportunity to make a lasting impression.

And remember, being a professional artist isn't just about making great art. It's also about knowing how to present it to the world.

To learn more about my paintings, exhibitions, and career as a Canadian artist, visit brandysaturley.com.