What's the importance of having a high-priced 'showstopper' piece at art festivals?

Always bring at least one large, impressive, high-priced piece to shows—something that commands attention and establishes your credibility. This could be a large diptych or triptych priced significantly higher than your typical work. The showstopper serves multiple purposes: it demonstrates your skill level, positions you as a serious professional artist, and can result in significant single sales that make your entire show profitable. One artist brought a 4x9 foot triptych priced at $25,000 (negotiable) to a fall show, and selling it for $17,500 represented the majority of her $26,000 show revenue. Without that piece, the show would have been marginal. Even if it doesn’t sell, it elevates perception of all your other work and establishes your range.

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Asked by a landscape painter discussing festival strategy · Answered by Patrick Shanahan and Terry Sauvé · art-marketing-podcast · 2025-12-10