Pick Me! Pick Me! Tips on Getting Your Work Selected for Juried Shows

Sylvia White June 09, 2008 Professional Practices 33 Comments

“Win as if you were used to it, lose as if you enjoyed it for a change.” Ralph Waldo Emerson

The level of success an artist achieves when entering juried shows, obviously relates to the quality of your work. However, artists may be surprised to learn there are many other, not so obvious reasons, their work is selected or rejected.

Picking the RIGHT juried show

One of the most important things you can do, comes before any work is looked at. It has to do with your process in selecting whether or not a juried show is appropriate for your work. I’ve known very few artists who actually go to the trouble of researching who a juror is, and what kind of work they might be attracted to. Before Google, it was a formidable task, but, now, with the internet, it’s a breeze. Before entering any juried show, do your homework. Find out who the juror is. If it is an artist, look at the kind of work they do; if it is a gallerist, look at the artists they represent; if it is a curator, look at the kinds of shows they have put together in the past. This single most important recommendation, is the one that gets most frequently overlooked, and the one that has the most influence on the decision.

Picking the RIGHT work to enter

If you have decided to submit 2 or more pieces, don’t make the mistake of picking work that is disparate. If you tend to work in many different styles concurrently, as many artists do, you need to decide which body of work you think this particular juror will be most receptive to. Each piece you submit should relate stylistically. It gives a juror a much stronger sense of your style, if they can see several pieces that relate to one another.

Preparing the Application

It should go without saying that you should read the prospectus and follow the instructions. Most juried shows have elaborate labeling requirements, shipping requirements or detailed applications. They don’t do this to make your life difficult, but, rather, to make their life easier. Dealing with numerous artist entries, sometimes hundreds, requires an organized system. When an artist strays from the required format, or materials, it is easy to eliminate them without ever looking at the work. Therefore, if an application asks for 6 slides labeled in a specific way, make sure you do it. If they ask for a disk with 10 jpegs organized in a certain format, do it. If you have questions about anything on the application, email or call for clarification, but, make sure you have looked through all the materials first. Let’s face it, juried shows are not cheap, you don’t want to blow it on a technicality.

Finally, a lot of artists make the mistake of sending their application via registered mail, which requires a signature and a special pick up at the post office, YUCK! Unless you are sending actual art , there is no reason to send it registered, or insured…just basic priority mail offers online tracking, so you can check to see that your pack arrived safely. It is also not necessary to send notebooks, folders or elaborate presentations, as the juror never even sees your presentation. In general, an assistant will prepare the images for the juror to review. It is also a no-no to staple your check to your application. Remember, most juried shows receive hundreds of applications, be kind and make it as easy as possible for the assistant. And, please, please, please don’t wait until the last minute to send in your application. It is less stress on you and the organizer, if your package comes in early.

Presenting Your Work

I will assume that you already have read the article on Photographing Your Own Work–A Last Resort. Before you submit your work to juried shows, galleries or collectors, you need to have really great images. This is your single most important expenditure as an artist. Do not skimp here. If your work is not photographed professionally, or well, you will never get the recognition your want, or your work deserves. I’ve juried many, many juried shows where work that looked interesting, was poorly lit or badly photographed and it was impossible to see. Make sure you send the best representation of your work.

Following Up

If you are lucky enough to be chosen for a juried show you have entered, be proud of yourself! Most juried shows are very competitive and being selected from such a large group of artists means the juror saw something in your work that they were interested in. Make a note of who the juror is and be sure to put them on your mailing list. It’s even a good idea to follow up after the show by sending the juror a thank you note, including a packet of slides, disk, resume/bio, catalog…or, even a simple thank you email with a link to your site. Most jurors have incredible visual memories. I remember work from shows I’ve juried 20 years ago…stay in touch with jurors you know love your work…you never know where it could lead you.

Dealing with Rejection

Jurors look for a lot of different things when putting a show together. Often times, the consideration of how a show will “hang together” becomes more important than a juror’s feelings about one particular piece. In other cases, size or media restrictions eliminate pieces that otherwise would be chosen. Sometimes, the particular venue may have restrictions, such as no nudity (yes, it still happens). In the end, there is no way to predict how or why a juror picks specific pieces. Much of the selection process is based on a sub-conscious response to the work, which is often times based on a lifetime of cumulative visual experiences. Understanding that a rejection from a juried show is not a reflection on your work, is the first step towards becoming a mature professional artist. And, if you haven’t already done so, please take a moment to read the article on my website, “Understanding Rejection.” Above all, give yourself the credit you deserve for putting your work out there, and don’t ever stop trying! You owe it to yourself and to your work…..Good luck!

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33 Responses to “Pick Me! Pick Me! Tips on Getting Your Work Selected for Juried Shows”

  1. Wandola Gray said:

    Mar 21, 10 at 9:47 pm

    Your articles are superb. They will be invaluable. Thank you. Greatly appreciated. Wandola

  2. hjhjh said:

    Apr 26, 10 at 4:28 pm

    “Often times, the consideration of how a show will “hang together” becomes more important than a juror’s feelings about one particular piece” that phrase sums up the crap shoot of juried shows. I KNOW jurors do this, even if the call for artist prospectus does not have a “theme”, the juror will invent one based on the submissions. That is just a waste of my time and entry fee. If there is going to be a theme, then state it in the prospectus so I can decide if I want to waste the $25-$50 to enter the show. It is an insult to be rejected because you painted the red cloud in a sea of blue ponies so the show became about blue ponies. That is all about the juror’s ego and not the quality of the submissions.

  3. Pam Utton said:

    Apr 26, 10 at 4:29 pm

    excellent advise. Thank you!

  4. Patricia McAnally said:

    Apr 26, 10 at 4:46 pm

    Very good advice.
    Thanks!

  5. Diane said:

    Apr 26, 10 at 4:47 pm

    Great information. It took me about two years to figure out the jurors in this town that will never jury my work into a show. Don’t know why…but I know they won’t. I don’t waste the money entering the show.

  6. Jennifer Stone said:

    Apr 26, 10 at 4:48 pm

    Excellent information! I appreciate knowing that even a rejection is part of the journey along with the process of applying into a juried exhibit.
    Jennifer

  7. William said:

    Apr 26, 10 at 4:51 pm

    While somewhat helpful the reality is that most shows pick the same artist in a high percentage year in and year out,although they would like you to belive that a new jury has a fresh point of view every year, if you look at who gets juried in every year its generaly the same people.Out of 250 spaces in a large show broken down into 7 catagories = 35 artist per catagory maybe a show will have 2 new artist per catagory.Its all about collecting jury fees(Most juries are not paid)and putting on a show that the process is fair but we know better.What you end up with is the staleness that comes with mediocrity.

  8. Barbara Bonfilio said:

    Apr 26, 10 at 5:00 pm

    Very useful. Thanks

  9. Terri said:

    Apr 26, 10 at 5:24 pm

    Great article!

    I love what you say about rejection. I recently got 9, yep, NINE rejection notices in one week. Thankfully, as I’ve mentioned, I’ve been a juror and curator, so I wasn’t too bothered. You are so right to shine light on many variables that affect decision making. It’s often not that the art isn’t good, it’s all a matter of presentation and the right fit.

    I’ve juried exhibitions and worked as a curator too. And just because something didn’t fit for a specific show, doesn’t mean that I didn’t take note of some of the significant or interesting work that comes through the process. Many times I’ll note an artist of particular interest and toss them a show or opportunity later on.

  10. Barbara Giordano said:

    Apr 26, 10 at 5:38 pm

    This is a very well written and informative article. I actually feel so much better and aware after reading it. Thank you.

  11. Peter Worsley said:

    Apr 26, 10 at 6:30 pm

    Great overview of the subject. So few artists know this. As always, I love reading postings.

  12. Nola said:

    Apr 26, 10 at 6:50 pm

    Thank you for a detailed and great article. The more an artist knows the more they can achieve.

  13. Nanci said:

    Apr 26, 10 at 7:11 pm

    Thanks for the interesting article, but most juried shows I know of now use Zapplication, so there’s no way to know WHO juries your work!

  14. Connie Noyes said:

    Apr 26, 10 at 7:12 pm

    Here is something interesting that happened earlier in the year concerning this topic. I entered an exhibit, the juror I knew fairly well. I called him to thank him for picking my work for the exhibit, which I never thought would be picked as it was a large 10x 7 foot painting. I am a blond, delicate white chick..
    Sylvia, I am just curious..are most juried exhibits done blind..no name, sex or other identifying information disclosed?

  15. Anna Marie Francesco said:

    Apr 26, 10 at 8:09 pm

    I love your articles!!! Thank you for all of the wonderful information!!!

  16. Michele Fraichard said:

    Apr 26, 10 at 8:39 pm

    Thank you so much for demystifying the ‘juried show.’ It’s something I’ve been thinking about trying, but just haven’t mustered – everything you said makes complete sense.

  17. Julia Antonia said:

    Apr 26, 10 at 10:26 pm

    Thanks for your advices !
    should have met you at art school :-)
    kind regards and have a nice day
    Antonia

  18. Unni Lørdahl Rasmussen said:

    Apr 26, 10 at 11:05 pm

    Thank you so much for this article!
    I’ve thought of applying juried shows abraod, but……Now I certainly will start looking for them!

    Best regards!

    Unni

  19. Angela Stroup said:

    Apr 27, 10 at 3:32 am

    Thank you for the excellent tips. I had never thought about following up with the juror after the show. That is a great idea. I have always researched the juror and I find they are often academics from universities and they frequently are not really displaying much of their art anywhere. At times there seems to be a connection between these professors and their students as to who gets in the show and who wins the awards. I do not make this as a blanket statement because I know this is not true about all academics, but it does seem to occur frequently enough to be noticible in this local area. I very much appreciated this article. Thank you.

  20. Dixie Hester said:

    Apr 27, 10 at 8:05 am

    being primarily a self-taught artist,I find your articles very enlightening…thank you Dixie

  21. Sylvia White said:

    Apr 27, 10 at 8:59 am

    Dear Connie, yes, most shows are juried “blind”

  22. Sylvia White said:

    Apr 27, 10 at 8:59 am

    Then, you need to inquire!

  23. Sylvia White said:

    Apr 27, 10 at 9:05 am

    Dear William, it sounds like you are continually entering the same juried shows, which would obviously yield the same results, try to expand your horizons. Here is a list of 31 website that list juried show opportunities . Good luck

  24. ruth langs said:

    Apr 27, 10 at 2:34 pm

    Thanks for the great advice, win or lose at least we are out there!

  25. Angeline Marie said:

    Apr 27, 10 at 3:12 pm

    Sylvia,

    THANK YOU! Quick reads with lots of information is exactly what I need.

    I did want to let you know that one of the links I tried to follow is broken. It’s the one about photographing your own work. Please fix, because that is my next “stop.”

    THANK YOU!
    Smiles,
    Angeline Marie

  26. Lynn Ann said:

    Apr 27, 10 at 8:08 pm

    Great info to keep in mind! Thank you for sharing Sylvia!

  27. sophia burns said:

    Apr 27, 10 at 10:03 pm

    Thank you for these very useful tips, I had never thought to check the visual background of the jury. It sounds so obvious but then as you say we don’t do our homework…

  28. Karen Mortensen said:

    Apr 28, 10 at 1:30 am

    After doing many juried shows over the years and even winning lots of awards it is still baffeling to me that a juror cannot just choose with an educated and somewhat impartial eye leaving his or her prejedices at the door. I realize that a certain cohesion is desireable for a show but it has always seemed to me that a talented installer can make an esthetic whole out of just about anything thus the chance for an expansive veriety. Personally I would not want to pander to the juror by researching his preferences only to see if he has an imaginative style. Anyway it would’nt matter because I do what I do regardless and it is always a crapshoot.

  29. Karen Paige Dash said:

    Apr 28, 10 at 5:47 pm

    Thank you so much for the information. I truly appreciate it:)

  30. Mary Lou Jaeb-Marksteiner said:

    Apr 29, 10 at 12:19 pm

    Most juried exhibits in which I have shown work had work selected from submitted art pieces. Others were selected by a visit to my studio by the curator. In going far afield today I find the request for slides odd, unusual, yet I saw it on a local site just recently. I haven’t owned a 35mm camera for over 10 years. Who still has a slide projector? Some smaller galleries do not want jpegs as they don’t have up to date computer equipment. Some major galleries will accept photos and from these may ask to see your original pieces. So, do your homework. As for me, if a gallery wants slides, that would definitely leave me out.

  31. E J Williams said:

    Apr 30, 10 at 8:54 am

    Silvia, I want to thank you for publishing this article. I have entered so many juried shows and everyone is a crap shoot. Your advice helps me to decipher what types of work to enter based on the juror. I was just flat out rejected from a show that did not announce who the juror was and he was a curator/museum director. If I had known, I would not have entered the pieces that I chose. Hard lesson that keeps smarting. The association also changed the admission rules from the past where they allowed at least one work from each artist in the show. They did not inform of that change. It really would help if the show director shows some transparency from the get-go of announcing the show. Transparency is playing fair and revealing the inner workings of the jurying process. We need to seek change in this process. I am now an assistant director of a juried show coming up this summer. We will make sure everyone knows who the juror is up front. They will be from out of town so they do not act partial to the regular signature artists who apply. I hope this makes it more fair.

  32. Sylvia White said:

    May 31, 10 at 3:54 am

    You can find it in the ArtAdvice article titled “It’s a new day, it’s a new dawn: New Year’s Resolutions for artists.”

  33. ragnhild lunden said:

    Oct 14, 10 at 5:28 am

    What is to gain form a juried show but adding to your CV and feel the joy?