How to Curate a Group Art Exhibition

You have been asked by your local art gallery to curate a group exhibition but have no idea how to get started. While it used to be that a curator just had to have great taste in art, this is no longer the case. Nowadays, curators are expected to develop highly conceptual exhibition themes that are meant to challenge and enlighten viewers. In other words, you can’t just cobble a bunch of artworks together because they happen to look good; there has to be some underlying idea that unites them all.

Instructions

1. Develop a theme. The theme should be flexible and open-ended enough to encompass a variety of artworks in different media.

2. Choose a title for the exhibition. The title should be directly related to your theme, so that it clearly reveals what the exhibition is about.

3. Find artists who have done work based on this theme. You might also consider asking an artist whose work you like to create something new around this theme.

4. Invite the artists to participate in the exhibition. Many artists now have websites with readily available contact information. For other artists, however, you may need to contact their galleries first to ask permission to use their art in your exhibition.

5. Write a press release. This is your chance to explain the title and theme of your exhibition to the press, as well as name which artists will be featured in the show. The press release should be no longer than one page.

6. Install the artwork in the gallery. When possible, you should ask the artists for their input on the installation and placement of works of art. This does not mean you always have to take their advice, but you should always listen and consider their feedback.

Tips & Warnings

• Refrain from being didactic. Look for works that illustrate your theme in more subtle ways. When arranging works in the gallery, try to create unusual juxtapositions in both theme and visual appearance. This will give your exhibition an aura of mystery that will enrich it greatly.

• Curators are often accused of being too authorial. Even if you happen to be an artist yourself, you should refrain from using works of art as mere illustrations of your theme. Considering and heeding input from the artists you are exhibiting might prevent you from creating an exhibition that is too didactic.

References

• “A Brief History of Curating”; Hans Ulrich Obrist; 2008
• “The Next Documenta Should Be Curated By an Artist”; Jens Hoffmann; 2004