Comments on: Selling Your Work in New York Galleries/An Insider’s Story

By: Keith

Keith — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 06:42:50 +0000

Im ready. great to read.

By: DG Wilson

DG Wilson — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 16:16:55 +0000

Hello! great article! I really appreciated the input. It was funny because I was again feeling the drive to bust my head against the gallery wall…and in my search YOUR article came up first. Following the spiritual impulse I clicked and was thankful for your input. Like you, I believe I am a bit more free flowing, creative and independent as an artist (I have been a professional artist ever since grad from Pratt in ’94) BUT reaching clients that collect fine art would really increase my living; (I currently do all custom tattoos for the most part.) WHAT I Would like to know is how YOU went about creating your own independent shows and sales. In your article you discuss the benefits of being on your own but then describe ways to go about achieving a gallery. What are your suggestions on how do I achieve collectors with my FINE ART? I have quite a few ideas and based on your article will implement some changes & follow through; however I am looking for a few suggestions on how to jump from tattoos to selling my many original art series to collectors? Please take a look at my website http://www.DGWILSONART.com and you will understand what I mean. I have many series of art that I have been working upon in the last couple of decades while writing books, illustrating & publishing them, have a full clothing and print on demand line of art, as well as can do many other things such as portraits, landscape paintings, jewelry that is very unique (Tattoo Toolery) but my most favored series are the Ink Blots, Bonsai in Nature, and the Industrial series. So specifically HOW would you recommend I proceed to sell my fine art to the public that are not getting tattoos? Thank you so much for your time and great article. I will continue reading your blog and the other blogs you recommended. Again, I appreciate your spirit.

By: Online: Readings and Inspiration 7-19-2011 « Sisley-Blinn: Artist

Online: Readings and Inspiration 7-19-2011 « Sisley-Blinn: Artist — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 00:32:10 +0000

[...] Selling Your Work in New York Galleries: An Insider’s Story “Guest blogger Rhonda Schaller is an artist, gallerist, and the Assistant Director of Career Development at New York’s School of Visual Arts.” “So, this is what I have discovered in my research and in my life, about how the commercial art world works, at least for now. Is it for you? Lets dive in. [...]

By: Rhonda Schaller

Rhonda Schaller — Fri, 13 May 2011 15:26:15 +0000

Hi Marie,
Thanks for sharing your research and experiences, so glad these approaches have worked for you.

I think E-mail marketing is a great tool for art consultants, art licensing firms, magazines and art buyers for sure. As long as artists do their research and target their promotional campaigns to the right audience, it is E-mail marketing is a proven way to gain new clients, and very effective.

Established gallerists in NYC are a whole other breed in my experience. Glad you have found some who will take email submissions. Again, artists have to research who does and doesn’t and follow instructions. The authors of Art/Work Heather Bhandari, who runs Mixed Greens Gallery, NYC and Jonathan Melber from Jen Bekman, NYC polled over 100 gallerists/art dealers in NYC and email is really not the way to reach out. Here are their top ten ways gallerists find artists, which I think is worth it’s weight in gold – am happy to share!
1. Artist Recommendations
2. Curator Recommendations
3. Solo or Group shows
4. Art Fair
5. Slide registry or flat files
6. Submissions/Open calls
7. Other recommendations
8. Social event
9. Open Studio
10. Juried show

It’s just a good rule of thumb for artists not to go door to door with a portfolio under their arm asking if a gallery has 5 minutes to look at their work. Find out who accepts submissions and when, and do not send unsolicited requests for representation.

By: Marie Kazalia

Marie Kazalia — Thu, 12 May 2011 22:01:18 +0000

Lengthy article, and I admit I skimmed the lower portion.
Rhonda, thanks. I think that you are using the term *self-produced* the way film/TV uses the word producer–as in you find your own art shows or marketing? It would be nice to get a definition.

I agree with much in this article, but disagree regarding email submissions. There are art consultants who own galleries that have accepted artist from email submissions. I know because I made the submissions on behalf of the artists. There are many art consultants who prefer email submissions. Email submissions are becoming the norm in making submissions to editors of art magazines, art licensing firms and art consultants.
I read a survey today that 83% of art professionals (in areas named above)now prefer email submissions. There are gallerist still respond to email submissions when the approach is professional and well crafted and the jpegs are properly labeled.