参展艺术家

工作日程

Exhibiting Artists often work independently at home or in studios. They usually set their own hours and might have intense periods of work leading up to exhibitions. Travel is necessary to transport their art pieces and to attend shows.

典型职责

• Develop creative ideas for making original art
• Create sketches, templates, or models to work from
• Establish a budget to purchase supplies
• Select materials to use, based on color, texture, durability, and other factors
• Develop art pieces in various media (i.e., painting, sculpture, photography, etc.). Shape, join, or cut materials as needed
• Generate cohesive bodies of work for exhibitions. Prepare documentation such as descriptions, press releases, invitations, and promotional materials
• Take photos during the creation process and after the pieces are completed
• Develop portfolios to showcase pieces to galleries and collectors
• Collaborate with galleries and curators to organize and plan exhibitions, including group shows or theme-related shows, if suitable
• Handle logistics such as framing, transportation, and installation of art pieces
• Obtain specialized art insurance, if needed
• Display work at galleries, auctions, fairs, museums, print publications, and online markets
• Maintain an online presence via websites and social media
• Interact with the public and potential buyers, especially at exhibition openings

额外责任

• Stay current with art trends
• Participate in artist residencies and workshops
• Apply for grants and funding
• Network with other artists, collectors, and art professionals
• Manage applicable business aspects, including marketing, sales, networking, accounting, paying taxes, etc.
• Note, there are many tax considerations to consider, including but not limited to:

1. Accounting and legal fees
2. Advertising and promotion costs
3. Associated business fees
4. Commissions paid to galleries
5. Income taxes from sales
6. Insurance (including automobile insurance since artists must transport their work)
7. Studio and gallery space rent expenses
8. Supplies, materials, and equipment
9. Travel expenses

软技能

• 沟通技巧
• 创造性
• Customer-oriented
• 纪律
• Good color vision
• 独立性
• 激励
• 谈判
• 联网
• Outgoing personality
• 耐心
• 坚持不懈
• 劝说
• 复原力
• 销售技巧
• 时间管理

技术技能

The technical skills needed depend on the medium that the artist prefers. For example:

• In painting, Exhibiting Artists might work with oil paints, acrylics, watercolors, gouache, or encaustic, using tools like brushes, palette knives, canvases, easels, palettes, sponges, paint thinner, and gesso.
• For sculpture, artists may use clay, stone, metal, wood, plaster, or resin, employing chisels, hammers, mallets, modeling tools, kilns, welding equipment, saws, carving tools, sandpaper, files, molds, and casting tools.
• In photography, artists use cameras, lenses, tripods, lighting equipment, darkrooms (for film), editing software like Photoshop and Lightroom, printers, and framing and matting supplies.
• Printmaking involves etching, lithography, screen printing, woodcut, and linocut, with tools including printing presses, brayers, inking plates, carving tools, screens, squeegees, etching needles, acid baths, lithography stones, rollers, paper, and ink.
• For mixed media art, artists use adhesives, scissors, X-Acto knives, sewing needles, thread, cutting mats, paints, markers, brushes, sponges, sandpaper, and files.
• Digital art is created using graphics tablets, stylus pens, computers, monitors, software like Photoshop, Illustrator, Blender, and Maya, 3D printers (for physical models), storage devices, and printers.
• Textile art (weaving, knitting, embroidery, quilting) requires looms, knitting needles, crochet hooks, embroidery hoops, needles, sewing machines, scissors, fabric shears, threads, yarns, fabrics, measuring tapes, and rulers.
• In glass art, whether stained, blown, fused, or lampworked, artists use glass cutters, kilns, torches, soldering irons, glass grinders, molds, and protective gloves and eyewear.
• Ceramics involves working with earthenware, stoneware, porcelain, or raku using pottery wheels, kilns, clay extruders, modeling tools, slip, glazes, brushes for applying glaze, and wire cutters.
• Metalwork, including jewelry, blacksmithing, metal sculpture, or enameling, requires anvils, hammers, welding torches, soldering irons, metal cutters, shears, files, sanders, casting molds, and polishing wheels.

Other, more generalized technical skills include:

• Ability to curate and install exhibitions
• 手臂和手的稳定性
• Business acumen and marketing skills
• Digital skills for online marketing and sales
• 图形设计
• Knowledge of art history and contemporary art
• 手动灵活性
• Portfolio creation
• Press release writing

• Art fairs
• Art galleries
• Cultural institutions
• Independent studios
• 杂志
• 博物馆
• Online platforms

Exhibiting Artists are expected to create high-quality work that embodies their unique vision and resonates with the art market, which can be notoriously unpredictable.

They must balance creative pursuits with practical demands such as consistently displaying and selling their work. Establishing a reputation often takes years, and even then, the value of one’s art can fluctuate with market trends. This can make for a stressful experience.

Due to the inherent financial uncertainties of the art world, many Exhibiting Artists supplement their income through other jobs. They may struggle with rejection and criticism from critics and gallery owners, whose opinions can impact their careers and livelihoods. But the most successful artists stick with it, continue to develop their talents, adapt and learn from mistakes, and stay true to their overarching vision and goals! 

The art world is undergoing significant changes, with several key trends shaping its future. One of the most prominent shifts is the embrace of digital transformation, where artists increasingly showcase their work online and leverage social media to connect with a broader, global audience. Virtual exhibitions and online sales platforms are becoming standard, offering new avenues for visibility, income, and collaboration.

Meanwhile, immersive art experiences, such as interactive installations and augmented reality art, are gaining popularity, too. The rise of NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens) has opened up intriguing new possibilities for digital art ownership and monetization, though it comes with some risk as values can drop quickly.

Sustainability is a growing priority, with more artists turning to eco-friendly materials. There’s also much more focus on inclusive practices, leading to more opportunities for artists from underrepresented communities.

Exhibiting Artists often have a lifelong passion for creativity and visual expression. As children, they might have enjoyed drawing, painting, or building things. Many were likely involved in art classes or clubs.