Galleries So Hard to Get Into

when I started taking my art seriously in 2019, one of my goals was to create work that could get into galleries. I thought that if my art was good enough, it would naturally find it’s way into those spaces. I’d look at other artists exhibiting in galleries and compare— sometimes feeling like my work held up just as well, if not better. but here’s the thing… talent, techniques or skill alone doesn’t get you through the door.

the process of getting into a gallery isn’t as simple as submitting an application and waiting for a response. in fact, many artists showing in galleries and that are doing well don’t always go through that formal application process at all. The art world has this unspoken system, a mix of networking, timing, and, if i’m being honest, a little bit of luck.

sure, posting your work online helps, but galleries aren’t scrolling on Instagram looking for the next big thing. They’re paying attention to who’s active— who’s showing up at events, who’s engaging with collectors, who’s part of the right conversations. It’s less about being discovered and more about being present.

For the longest time, I was stubborn about this idea. I wanted to believe that if I just focused on making great art, everything else would fall into it’s place. But the more I’ve learned, the clearer it has become. Getting into galleries isn’t about the work— it’s about playing the game, whether you like it or not.