My First Exhibition Experience – The Joy of Sharing My Weird and Colorful Art

Back when we had our café art gallery, I finally decided to have a proper exhibition of my work. Looking back, I don’t know why I didn’t do it sooner. The café was all-consuming—there was barely time for anything, let alone putting together a show of my own art. But then, crunch time arrived. The artist who had been exhibiting was taking their work to another show, and our café would be left with bare walls. I could either let the space sit empty or finally take the plunge.

So, I indulged in the expense. I managed to get the first half of my Uncommon Animals of the Alphabet series printed, found suitable frames, and did all the framing myself. That moment—decorating the café with my own weird and colorful art—felt like one of the best days I ever had running the place.

No Grand Opening—Just a Surprise

There was no official exhibition opening. The artwork simply appeared one day, much to the surprise (and often delight) of the patrons. Many had no idea I was an artist—well, I suppose they never asked. As the barista, I’d had countless conversations with customers over coffee, but now those conversations shifted toward my art, my upcoming kids’ book, and, most importantly, the strange and wonderful animals that inspired my work.

It was a joy.

Then, my 8-year-old daughter came up to me with a report:
“Dad, one of the old ladies said your art was ugly.”

I laughed and told her, “That’s great! I got a response. My art isn’t for her—it’s for me. It’s for the uncommon animals of the world. And now she knows about them.”

Because that’s the thing—art isn’t about pleasing everyone. It’s about creating something that resonates, even if that resonance is discomfort or confusion. At least she noticed it.

The Unexpected Perks of Putting My Art on the Walls

Something incredible happened because of that exhibition: I sold a commission. A customer wanted a variation of my aardvark piece that read “A is for Amelia and Aardvark”, rather than just “A”. That simple request opened up an entirely new idea—custom commissions for kids’ bedrooms. I hadn’t even considered it before, but suddenly, there was an audience for it.

And then, another unexpected sale. Someone saw my framed work on social media and bought a piece all the way from Dallas, Texas. All because I had taken the step of putting my art on display in a public space.

Why Exhibiting Your Art in Public Matters

That first exhibition taught me something crucial: getting your art out there is essential to being a thriving artist. It’s not enough to create in isolation; you need to let your work breathe in the world. Conversations with people—both in-person and online—spark new ideas, open doors, and sometimes lead to sales you never anticipated.

I didn’t have a gallery opening. I didn’t have a big marketing plan. I just took the opportunity when it arose. And in doing so, I discovered new directions for my art, built deeper connections with my community, and, most importantly, felt the joy of seeing my creations hanging proudly on the walls.

If you’re an artist wondering whether to exhibit your work, my advice is simple: Do it. You never know what might come of it.