Should I wait for galleries and art shows to reopen before trying to sell my work?

No. Do not wait. The lesson of 2020 is that if you were dependent on galleries and in-person shows, you had a fragile business and got crushed. Many artists who had been successful for 10, 15, 20, 30 years were instantly cut off—work stuck in galleries, checks not delivered, no ability to sell. Meanwhile, artists who had made the digital pivot years before had record-breaking sales. Retail for art and photography is not coming back anytime soon the way it was. Even when galleries and shows reopen, you cannot rely on them exclusively. You must build your own online presence, your own website, your own email list, and your own ability to sell direct. Do both if you want, but never again put all your eggs in someone else’s basket.

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Asked by an artist waiting for galleries to reopen · Answered by Patrick Shanahan and Nick Friend · art-marketing-podcast · 2021-01-05