10 Strategies to Leverage Your Exhibitions
Don’t miss the boat.
When exhibiting in a show or being curated by a prominent thought leader, Instagram becomes a powerful tool for amplifying your visibility and building lasting momentum for your career. A strategic approach to sharing content, crafting stories, and maintaining momentum is key to turning this opportunity into long-term success. We are seeing so many artists missing the boat. They get curated into exhibitions and they don’t even share about it. If you can’t do this for yourself, you really have to rethink your goal strategies, or create some. For this post, let’s focus on Instagram and how we can help you with the gray area of what to do.
Start by showcasing your inclusion in the exhibition through polished posts and behind-the-scenes content. High-quality images of your work, paired with thoughtful captions that connect your art to the exhibition's theme or the curator's vision, help position you as a significant contributor to the event. Tagging the curator, gallery, and fellow artists not only expands your reach but also demonstrates collaboration and professionalism. Take the time to include all the parties in the collaboration and tag when appropriate. Also, —- know when tagging is not appropriate.
Instagram Stories are perfect for real-time engagement, giving your audience a glimpse into the exhibition's energy and your personal experience. Share moments from the installation, previews of your work in context, or interactions with attendees. Polls, question boxes, and interactive features can spark conversations and deepen audience connection.
To gain and maintain momentum, plan a content schedule that extends beyond the event's duration. Highlight milestones, such as press mentions or the curator’s insights about your work, and follow up with reflections or new projects inspired by the experience. Engaging with comments, resharing mentions, and actively participating in dialogues within the art community on Instagram further solidifies your presence. Successful artists recognize that leveraging these opportunities on social media not only boosts visibility but also creates lasting connections with collectors, galleries, and other influencers who are pivotal for sustained growth.
10 strategic ways to leverage exhibitions:
Create a Launch Post: Announce your participation in exhibitions with a polished post featuring a captivating image of your work, preferably the one the organization provides you, the exhibition flyer, or a curated teaser. Tag the curator, gallery, and fellow artists. When you're part of an exhibition or curated by a prominent thought leader, use that content in every way you can. Note, you are representing the organization, so mimic the post styling that they put forth. No messy posts with cut off images and crazy text everywhere.
Post Behind-the-Scenes Content: Share the process of preparing your work for the exhibition, including installation photos, packing, or studio prep to add a personal touch and build excitement. Pick a few powerful social media users that you aspire to be like and learn the nuances of what makes them great.
Use Instagram Stories for Live Updates: Share real-time updates during the exhibition's opening or other related events, showcasing the atmosphere, notable attendees, or your thoughts on being part of the event.
Highlight Key Features: Post a carousel with your work displayed in the exhibition alongside other pieces or comments from the curator to showcase your contribution in context.
Engage with Reels: Create short, engaging videos that capture the event highlights, such as the installation process, audience reactions, or your reflections on the experience.
Leverage Hashtags and Location Tags: Use relevant hashtags like #ArtExhibition, #CuratedBy, and location tags to increase discoverability and connect with a broader audience interested in art and exhibitions.
Host a Q&A Session: Use Instagram Stories to invite questions about your process, the exhibition, or your artistic journey, fostering engagement with your audience.
Collaborate with Fellow Artists and Curators: Share posts or stories from other participants, tagging and celebrating their work to build reciprocal relationships and attract followers from their audiences.
Reshare Mentions: Highlight posts or stories where your work or the exhibition is featured by the gallery, curator, press, or attendees to amplify visibility and credibility.
Maintain Post-Event Momentum: After the exhibition, share reflective posts about your experience, thank the curator and gallery, or connect the event to future projects to keep the energy going and show growth.
