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Hello Friends! Welcome back to Practice Practice.
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This is Isa, and I'm writing solo today.
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It's finally October! This is my favorite time of year. It's my birthday month! My fall classes are underway, I'm finalizing a big contract, and I recently launched my first ever studio sale!
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This studio sale is a major moment of growth for me. TBH, I've felt afraid to do this for years. I've had some negative experiences with art galleries, so this time I decided to try something new: self representation.
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Cut paper, graphite, colored pencil, paint marker, ink, watercolor .
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1. Why I'm not working with a gallery
My first jobs were in high-end art galleries. Think skylights, heated floors, private viewings, and $50,000 paintings. It was a high-stress, competitive environment. We were quite "successful", but no one—not the owners, my co-workers, our clients, or our artists—was happy. I was also miserable, so I quit.
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Up until that point, having a big-name gallery represent my work had been my goal. After leaving my job, I didn't want to get sucked back into that system as an artist. So I let my contracts expire and stopped applying to group shows. My creative practice became very private. I would occasionally trade or gift to someone I knew, but my work was off the art market.
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This change was seen as a failure by some of my peers, but it was absolutely the right choice for me. Taking that pressure off my creativity made space to re-evaluate and re-build my practice into something that worked for me.
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Slab-built stoneware fruit bowl in a nerikomi checker. Soda-fired.
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2. Expanding access and affordability
Without a gallery, my work is more affordable. Many galleries have a "floor", which is the lowest price that is still profitable. Most won't offer a piece below $500. When I sell my own art, I can set my own prices. I can offer small, affordable works alongside more expensive pieces.
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Additionally, most commercial galleries collect a 50% commission, which covers things like storage, advertising, shipping, and paperwork. This typically doubles the price of an artwork. As an independent artist, I have a smaller overhead. I can add a smaller percentage to my prices (about 15%) to pay myself for the admin work of setting up and running the web store.
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3. Self-representation!
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Most of all, being "represented" by a gallery never felt quite right for me. I don't want my ideas, my cultural background, or my gender identity to be left in the hands of someone else. Selling my own work on my own platform allows me to decide how I'm represented. Sure, my audience is smaller, but I speak for myself!
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Join me for Art Crit Night!
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Speaking of speaking for myself:
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I'm thrilled to present some new works-in-progress in a public critique with Curator, Pablo N. Barrera (Wixáritari) during OVAC's Art Crit Night on October 16th from 5PM–8PM at Oklahoma Contemporary!
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Art Crit Night is a free, public art critique featuring two local artists who present their work during a curator-led discussion. Look forward to a relaxed evening of engaging discussion and mingling with art friends.
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I'm excited and nervous, so wish me luck! We'll be back in 2 weeks.
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Until then, keep practicing!
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