7 Reasons Galleries Drop Artists (And How to Stay on the Roster for Years)
Getting in is hard. Staying in is harder.
Most artists put all their energy into getting into a gallery. Very few think about what it takes to stay.
I opened my first gallery in Chicago in 2004, and I've spent more than twenty years deciding who stays on the wall. Here's what I've learned: most artists who leave a gallery don't leave because their art isn't good enough. They leave because of something they did, or didn't do, that they never even noticed.
And galleries rarely tell you. It happens quietly: fewer of your pieces on the wall, slower replies to your emails, no invitation to the next group show, or work sent back "to make room."
How a gallery decides who stays
A gallery wall is the most expensive real estate the gallery owns. Every spot has to earn its place: rent, staff, openings, marketing, shipping.
When I plan a new season, I look at every artist on the roster and ask one question: does this relationship make the gallery stronger, or does it take more than it giv...
Stay connected with news and updates!
Recent Posts