Should I pursue getting my work into art galleries?

The gallery model only really works for about 0.5% of artists—those who make an actual living (over six figures annually) through galleries. The economics just don’t pencil out for most people. Additionally, galleries today are primarily taking on artists who already have large social media followings, substantial email lists, and are doing well with direct sales on their own websites. Rather than depending on galleries, focus on either becoming a road warrior doing 12-20 shows per year, or go direct by building your own marketing systems. Building your direct-to-collector business actually makes you more attractive to galleries if you decide to pursue them later.

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Asked by an illustrator asking about sales strategies · Answered by Patrick · Art Business Webinar · 2026-07-10