What We Look For When Artists Submit Their Work
One of the questions we hear often at The Marshall Muse Gallery is:
“How do I get my artwork into a gallery?”
The answer is simple, but it’s also important:
Bring us your best.
Not your newest piece just because it’s finished. Not the one you are unsure about. Not the one that’s been sitting in storage for three years waiting for someone to notice it.
Bring us the artwork that represents you as an artist and makes you excited to share your creativity with others.
At The Marshall Muse Gallery, we love discovering artists at all stages of their creative journey. We represent a wide range of mediums, styles, and experiences. From emerging artists showing their work for the first time to experienced artists with years of creating behind them, we believe there is room for many voices in the art world.
Our goal is to help artists put their strongest work in front of collectors.
Understanding Our Call for Artists
Each month, we have opportunities for artists to submit work for upcoming exhibits. Our exhibits are theme-based, and our upcoming exhibit calendar can be found on this page.
Artists can visit our Call for Artists page to see available opportunities and sign up for future exhibit slots.
For exhibit consideration, artists may bring in two to three pieces for us to review and select artwork that best fits the upcoming show.
One important thing to know:
We review artwork in person.
In today’s world of digital images, online submissions, and phone photography, it can sometimes be difficult to fully understand a piece until it’s standing in front of us. The colors, texture, scale, craftsmanship, and finishing details all tell part of the story.
Don’t Be Afraid to Show Your Work
One of the biggest pieces of advice I can give artists is this:
Do not be afraid to bring your work in.
If a piece is not the right fit for a particular exhibit, that does not mean it’s not good artwork.
Sometimes it may simply need a different presentation, a different theme, a different size, or a little more refinement.
I believe in honest feedback. If I see something that could help strengthen your work or make it more gallery-ready, I’m happy to share that with you.
Every artist starts somewhere.
The goal is always growth.
Presentation Matters
Your artwork does not have to be a $10,000 masterpiece to be gallery-worthy.
It does, however, need to be professionally presented.
The details matter.
Before bringing artwork into the gallery, take a close look at:
Canvas Edges
For gallery-wrapped canvas pieces, the edges should be finished.
This may mean painting the edges a solid color or continuing the artwork around the sides. The sides are visible, and they’re part of the finished piece.
Framing Choices
A frame should enhance artwork, not distract from it.
A poorly chosen frame can actually take away from a beautiful piece. Sometimes the best choice is a simple, clean presentation.
Remember: framing something just to say it’s framed is not always the answer.
Hanging Hardware
Every piece should arrive ready to hang.
A professional wire hanger that is properly attached and strong enough to support the artwork is essential. Collectors should not have to figure out how to safely display your work after purchasing it.
Clean and Finished Artwork
This one may seem obvious, but it matters.
Please clean artwork before bringing it in. Dust, fingerprints, damaged frames, scratches, tears, or marks from storage or transportation should be addressed before submission.
Your artwork is making its first impression.
Make sure it’s also putting its best foot forward.
Pay Attention to the Theme
Our exhibits are carefully curated around themes.
If we’re hosting an abstract exhibit, a traditional landscape is unlikely to be the right fit. If we’re featuring a nature exhibit, art featuring a completely unrelated subject won’t tell the story we are creating.
Always read the exhibit description and consider how your artwork connects.
The goal is not to limit creativity. The goal is to create a cohesive experience for visitors and collectors.
Pricing Your Artwork
Pricing artwork can be one of the most challenging parts of being an artist.
Your artwork has value, but it’s important to understand your market.
Look around. Research comparable artists. Visit galleries. Ask questions.
The art market can vary greatly depending on location, audience, experience, and demand. A price that works beautifully in one region may not work the same way in another.
Also remember: collectors need opportunities at different price points.
A gallery should offer artwork that allows someone to purchase their first piece while also giving experienced collectors the opportunity to invest in larger works.
We have absolutely sold artwork in the thousands of dollars, and those sales happen because collectors connect with the artwork and understand its value.
As your body of work grows, your experience grows, and your collector base grows, your pricing may naturally grow with you.
Building Your Artist Presence
Today, artists need more than just a canvas.
A strong online presence helps collectors connect with you.
Consider having:
A professional website
Updated social media accounts. Perhaps you’ll choose Instagram, Facebook, or TikTok… or more than one.
Quality images of your artwork
An artist statement or biography
A consistent place where people can learn more about you and your work
Your online presence helps tell the story behind the artwork.
And collectors love knowing the story.
More Than One Type of Artist Belongs Here
One of the things we’re most proud of at The Marshall Muse Gallery is that we are not a one-style gallery.
Our 8,700-square-foot creative space celebrates many forms of creativity, including fine art, craft, pottery, mixed media, photography, sculpture, jewelry, and more.
We believe art speaks differently to everyone.
Some collectors fall in love with a painting. Others connect with a handmade piece of pottery. Others find joy in a unique piece created by an artist they have never discovered before.
There’s room for many voices.
Whether you’re an emerging artist submitting your first piece or an established artist looking for a new audience, we invite you to share your work with us.
Bring your best. Bring your creativity. Bring your story.
Because behind every piece of art is an artist who had the courage to create it.
