By Helen Turnbull

Getting Started

Great, so you’ve decided to take the plunge. You are going to show your artwork to the world. I started by showing my first exhibition by showing it in non-traditional spaces. By non-traditional spaces I mean the likes of libraries, coffee shops, bars and restaurants, health clubs etc. They offer a way to show work to the general public in an accessible way.

Choosing a Theme

It’s not just about what you like. Putting together your first exhibition is going to be a costly business. So if you would like to make some money and sell some pieces (I assume you wouldn’t mind) then do your homework before jumping in head first. Start showing work to friends and colleagues or the photography magazines and get some feedback. Ask specifically which photographs they like, give them a slideshow and ask which ones they remember afterwards. Which ones stand out? Which one would they choose to hang on their wall?

Invite constructive criticism.

Before you put that moody, shocking or risky exhibition together think again. If you want to get noticed that’s one thing. If you want to get shown in public spaces you need to have suitable work. Your very well composed beautifully lit S&M photographs might not go down too well at the library where great aunty Ethel and Mums with little children will be your main audience. Likewise restaurants and cafés want to encourage their customers to eat, not to put them off their food. For exhibiting in public spaces like these choose non controversial subject matter. Go for something that would brighten up your average coffee shop or that Fred Smith will buy for his new office wall. You need to plan your pieces and the overall look with your audience in mind.

Do this and you will have lots of venues welcoming you with open arms. It doesn’t mean you should compromise on the art you want to create. Later when you have more experience and some reputation you can pick and choose. It’ll be a little while before you are calling the shots but be patient and hard-working and you will get there. If you want to stick to your guns and choose to show challenging artwork and subjects then you will need to consider alternative venues.

You can see Helen’s work at www.helenturnbull.com