How to Studio Visit
Having a studio visit with an artist is one of the most exciting and rewarding ways to learn about their work and engage with them in an intimate setting. Witnessing first-hand their materials, the canvas, smelling the paint, the brushes, finishes, etc. will help you understand their process and how their work is created from start to finish. There is no better way to fully understand the artist's concept and execution. Some artists are more open to studio visits than others. Many artists use studio visits as the sole way to showcase their work if they don’t already work with a gallery that exhibits their work. Some artists hold their studio space sacred and don’t entertain the idea of having visitors and prefer to show their work as a final product either via image or in person through an exhibition or art fair or other outlet.
Whether or not an artist works with a gallery, it is highly recommended to try and schedule a studio visit with an artist whose work you love and want to collect. This can be arranged by asking the artist directly via email or social media or working with an art advisor you trust who is connected to them. The artist may be more open to a visit if you have already purchased a work from them and intend to purchase another or continue supporting their practice in one way or another - having a friend or another interested party who attends and wants to buy a work is also a plus. Another way to organize a studio visit is to ask the gallery director who represents the artist. Again, some galleries are more open to this than others depending on the specific artist and also your level of commitment to that specific artist as well as the gallery program overall.
Some artists are better at talking about their work than others and given it’s an intimate and personal work space, it’s a good idea to have some specific questions about their work and process ready. We really recommend doing some research on the artist ahead of time so you’re prepared to discuss the work and don’t expect the artist to fully brief you on their work. Here are some questions to ask:
- What inspires you most to create the work you make?
- How do you know when you’re finished with a specific work?
- Where do you get your materials from? What excites you about your specific materials?
- Can you tell me about your process?
[Trudy Perry's Topanga, CA Studio]
The Komo Team is frequently in the studio with artists. Doing studio visits is one of the things we love most about what we do. We also often host panels, talks, or group studio visits with our collective artists. Stay tuned for upcoming events and organized studio visits. Please feel free to reach out to us at hello@komoart.com if there is an artist you are interested in learning more about and would like to have a studio visit with.
