Top curators share advice on how emerging artists can get noticed in a tough art world. Key tips include being proactive in building networks, approaching curators directly, and presenting organized online portfolios. Curators like Hitomi Iwasaki (Queens Museum), Marie-Anne McQuay (Liverpool Biennial), and Lisa Long (formerly Julia Stoschek Foundation) emphasize that artists should not wait to be discovered but instead engage with peers, attend shows, and reach out to curators, even those early in their careers.
This matters because the art market is increasingly strained, with commercial galleries struggling and museums facing funding cuts. The advice offers a practical roadmap for emerging artists navigating an oversaturated ecosystem, highlighting alternative pathways beyond traditional gallery representation. The curators' insights underscore a shift toward direct artist-curator relationships and collaborative models, which could reshape how new talent is discovered and supported.