What are the main ways artists can successfully sell their work today?

After eliminating difficult-to-access galleries and low-conversion marketplaces, there are two primary viable paths: First, become a road warrior doing art shows and fairs — 7 to 20 events per year. This means getting a booth, walls, loading your car, setting up for weekends, and hoping for good weather. It’s a fantastic way to build a business, but it’s hard on the body and requires consistency. Second, run your own online gallery with a website where you market consistently — growing your social following, sending emails, running promotions and sales. Regardless of which revenue sources you choose, owning your own home base and growing your customer list, email list, and social following creates an asset you own that can’t be taken away. This becomes the backbone for building your business.

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Asked by artists exploring selling options · Answered by Patrick · Art Business Webinar · 2026-08-05