I have every intention at getting to all the exhibitions that I am interested in. I live in New York City, the art capital of the world, I am a museum educator so I work in various museums but I still want to see art at other museums I don’t work in, it doesn’t always work that way, though. I am also a caregiver to a teen with autism making recreational outings a challenge, let alone going out to work! There are also exhibits in other states and countries that I will never get to see regardless of my caregiver status.
After my flurry of Instagram posts about the recent Juan de Pareja exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, many people DM’ed me wondering what they could do to get information about the artist because…they missed the exhibition! So what can you do if you miss an exhibition you really wanted to see?
Find out if a catalog was published
The first thing I do when I can’t get to an art exhibit is I find out if a catalog accompanying the art show, was published.
The catalog will contain reproductions of the work, essays by art historians and other experts, and perhaps some of the wall signage, and more.
If you can’t tell if a catalogue exists, from the museum or gallery website, call and speak to someone, the catalogue info may not be on the website.
Check the museum/gallery website for information
Don’t sleep on the museum/gallery website! Often the art museum website will have information about the exhibition even though it has already closed.
This information can include videos featuring the artist(s), panel discussions that were recorded pertaining to the theme of the art works, reproductions of images, etc.
Search and see if the artist(s) has their own website
You can find out a lot about the artist from their own website.
Search for the artist’s social media account(s)
If the artist doesn’t have a website, once you know a couple of names from the catalog or by visiting the museum website, try and see if you can find the artist’s social media accounts especially Instagram which is more image reliant.
You might get more perspective from the artist’s own account which they usually control. You will also get the artist’s own words about his art which is so valuable!
Go a step further and message the artists
I am not telling you to stalk artists now! But from what one of my artist friend’s tell me, artists appreciate a little admiration after they tirelessly work alone on their art. Be cordial, introduce yourself, and compliment their work. You can ask them about upcoming exhibitions they are participating in. Offer to shout them out on your social media accounts. They will appreciate it!
Search for press on the show
I get some of my best quotes and insights about an art exhibit from the press. Reporters see the work from a different perspective. They report what they see, they use layman’s words. It’s refreshing! I may not always agree but it serves to understand the work from all angles.
Follow people who DO make it to a lot of exhibitions
As I mentioned, I am a caregiver to a child with a disability. I can’t get to all the exhibitions but I have colleagues/friends who can and do! I rely on them and am grateful when they post photos of art shows they have been to. Some accounts to follow are:
Arlene Dávila
Arlene is an anthropologist, NYU professor, and founder of the Latinx Project at NYU. She regularly posts about exhibitions featuring Latinx and Latin American artists in NYC and beyond. Check out her book here. IG: @arlenedavila
Angela Garcia
Angela is an art historian and museum educator working in various art institutions in NYC. She regularly posts about exhibitions in NYC and beyond. She’s a teacher at heart, I learn a lot from her. IG: @arthistorianone
Valentín Concha-Nuñez
Valentín is an art historian and educator who travels the world, viewing many exhibitions along the way and posting about them! He has some fascinating insights about art. IG: valentin_tintin_
Did I miss any? If you know of others please let me know so I can follow them.
Exhibition Tracker Printable for sale on my Etsy shop
And there you have it! These are all the tips I follow myself when I miss an exhibition, because let’s face it, we can’t be everywhere! However, if you do want to keep track of exhibitions you really want to see, check out my exhibition tracker on Etsy. It’s a great tool to plan your museum hopping trips. You can even add bus and subway lines (if you live in NYC or other city with public transportation). I usually go on museum websites and take a look at exhibitions on want to view and write them all down in the exhibition tracker. All the exhibitions are written down in one place making it super easy to reference when I am on the go.