by Bob Freyer
Looking back on my last solo exhibition and thinking of what’s next. I’m not just thinking about myself, I’m thinking of all of us emerging artists. The end game used to be getting our art noticed, hand picked by curators, and possibly represented by a gallery. At least that’s how I view it.
Over the years, I have shown in multiple places throughout the city. I’ve sold out at a few shows, which is an awesome feeling. Over the passing years I have noticed a decline in people attending shows. I’m not just talking about my shows, but others too. Even when I was running and curating a gallery, attendance was low, and sales were lower. People could say that the pandemic hurt the art scene, but at the beginning of it I had a show and many people came out to it and I sold art. There’s so many great artists in Pittsburgh it would be nice to see a gallery go out of their way to show these artists.
When I was running and curating at Point Five Gallery I did my best to get artists that I thought needed to be seen. I specifically looked for the art that was different and marketable. I was looking for those artists that made art how they wanted. If I would put the style in a category I would say it was a mix of contemporary/outsider/pop art. The hardest part was getting people to basically cross a bridge to come to a show. When there was a high attendance I heard people scoff at the prices. Some didn’t understand the price vs the time the artist put into a painting.
One of the biggest shows we had was the Deck The Walls skate deck show. There were 40+ artists and over 60+ decks hanging in the gallery. It was great to see. It was disappointing that the sales didn’t match. I hear artists say “people in Pittsburgh don’t want to buy art.” As an artist and curator I think that’s partially true. For contemporary artists, abstract artists, outsider artists, folk artists and others, it can feel true.
This is going to sound repetitive, but if it’s not sports themed, landscapes, or pop art, I wonder if it might be best to sell online. Looking back on this, I really think there was more I could have done. I’m not going to make excuses. I’m a full time dad, I have a full time job, my own art business and I was running the gallery. Plus, I was curating. I thought too much like an artist and not a curator.
I looked to get the asking price in a painting. I never wanted to take away from the artist. I wanted them to get the full asking price. My goal was to make artists money. I would be lying if I said it wasn’t frustrating getting artists to follow a schedule. A pet peeve of mine was artists not following deadlines and themes. It was also very annoying when people would say “let me know when the next show is. I’ll be in it” then when you do, there’s not even a response. I was making online submission forms that had all the guidelines for the show, and due dates. That drove me nuts.
I could be wrong, and I most likely am, but it seems that Ketchup City Creative goes out of their way for ulocal emerging artists. Pittsburgh has its great galleries for sure. As much as I love Ketchup City, they can’t support the local artists all by themselves. I have been asked “What can other galleries do to support local artists”? I think it’s an adjustment on their part, but I could be wrong. Instead of focusing on the popular names, and out of town artists, why not dedicate local group shows. A weekend show of all local talent would boost the support in a group show. If you get 3-4 local galleries doing this once a month, I’m confident the artists would respond in a great way. I think the regular gallery attendees would find a new favorite artist. I can also see the artists’ followers showing support to the galleries as well.
Artists also can’t just rely on First Fridays to get in a spot that they usually wouldn’t. First Fridays are good, but from my experience in the past, and what I hear, it can be only financially beneficial for the bar/restaurant/coffee shop/store the artists are either painting or showing at.
There just seems to be a new gallery experience for a locally showing artist. Is it now acceptable to have a one day show? A pop up show in a way? If that’s the new new, I can accept that to a point. I’ve chatted in the past with other artist friends and ones that I respect and admire their craft. From our perspective (well mine, I will only speak for myself) it seems sometimes like landscape, pop art and sports art are what drives people to shows.
Coming from a blue collar family and town, I can easily relate to picking and choosing what I spend my money on. I can also see how sports, pop culture and landscapes sell. I’ve also painted pop culture and landscapes. However, that type of art doesn’t really speak to me, and that’s why I can accept and understand that my art might do the same to others.
Some might take this a “bitch fest” coming from me. But, in fact it’s the complete opposite. It’s very eye opening and motivating. Regardless of how big Pittsburgh is, the country is bigger, the internet is bigger. There’s still multiple resources and ways for all of us to share and sell our art. Personally speaking, I get more work and sales off of social media.
Just with one hashtag my visibility can extend to thousands of people at one time. I can easily find my target audience and engage with them. Social media allows us to do what we want at our own pace. Sure, we don’t get the one on one experience with the viewer but we also get seen more to a point than we would in a gallery. While the setting up for a gallery is show is fun and fulfilling, it could be less time to do a virtual show.
I will always prefer to show in a gallery or venue over just sharing a post on social media. It just has me thinking that these days could be limited. Right now it seems to be more convenient to make a post and wait for a buyer. Nothing beats the in person experience though. But the internet is a huge market where we all have a place.
Bob Freyer is an award-winning artist from Pittsburgh, PA who paints images from an alternate world. Since 2013, Freyer has been showcasing work in Pittsburgh and has participated in numerous shows throughout the U.S.
PETRICHOR 
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