Art Fair Success Tips To Get the Most From Your Shows
Artists all over the world rely on art fairs and festivals to promote their brand and sell their products. Many artists depend on these events for their livelihood, and many do very well at them.
Art fairs and festivals can also help you build an audience, create community, and command the attention of galleries and curators. Here are my top 10 tips for artists who want to access the powerful reach of art fairs:
1. Put the research into it first. Preparation is your best friend because when it comes to art fairs, you cannot plan too much.
2. Follow instructions. Artists are known for breaking the rules, but the place to break them is in your work — not in your professional submissions to participate in a show.
3. Get organized and create a system to make sure all the details are covered.
4. Pay attention to your brand when you exhibit. All materials should be created with your brand in mind. It is all about consistency and authenticity.
5. Do not overhang your work in your booth. Art fairs are overwhelming enough.
6. Art fairs are an excellent investment but think long term as well. Do not invest everything you have in one art fair. There are too many variables outside your control.
7. Promote your booth before and during the fair. Make sure you let people know where they can find you. Share your excitement with your audience!
8. Be sure to follow up on your leads from the show, because the best sales often happen after the fair.
9. Stay positive — even when things do not appear to be going your way.
10. Remember that art fairs are a powerful way to build relationships — both with an audience and with other artists.
In addition, you do not have to be an exhibitor to get the benefits of attending a fair. It is also important to see what other artists are doing, what galleries are showing, and finding work that inspires you.
So, even if you do not have any plans to exhibit in an art fair yourself, I urge you to visit art fairs whenever you get the opportunity. You will always find something to learn, someone to meet, and something to see.
Crista Cloutier is an artist who writes, focusing on the issues that surround the life and work of artists. She is the founder of The Working Artist, an award-winning online business program that has helped artists in more than 80 countries show and sell more art. Cloutier is a fellow of the Royal Society of Art. She received the 2025 Golde Medal from the French Academy of Arts for her contributions. Her professional files were collected by the Archive of American Art at the Smithsonian Institute. She believes any artist can succeed if they do the work. If you would like to learn more about attaining art-world success, visit her website at www.theworkingartist.com.
