Superfine Art Fair Review
Seattle 2023But they have a challenge: The Other Art Fair by Saatchi Art has the same approach and is way more popular, with the advantage of having a considerable artist community plus an online selling system.
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Superfine Art Fair for Independent Artists
This article is based on Taaye’s visit to the fair. Taaye attended the Superfine Art Fair in Seattle, Washington, intending to explore participating next year. This exploration included talking to artists, staff members, and collectors to understand their perspectives on the event.
Taaye is a watercolor artist based in Vancouver, Canada. You can see her work here. She is interested in her independence as an artist and desires to be her own boss. So, prospecting Superfine was a logical move for her.
Is Superfine worth it for artists?
If you’re an artist with an entrepreneurial spirit and have already honed your communication and sales skills, Superfine can be a good choice for elevating your art business. Contrarily, caution is advised if you’re considering Superfine solely because you’ve struggled to sell your work independently or through a gallery. The platform may not magically solve your sales woes and could lead to failure. However, failure is a part of the learning curve.
How much is a booth at Superfine art fair?
Artists should be mindful of the return on investment while setting their artwork prices for the fair. The silver lining with Superfine? They don’t take a cut from your art sales. However, there’s a catch: an 8-foot booth rental will set you back about $2,500 US dollars. So, remember to factor this in when shaping your pricing plan.
Reasons for choosing Superfine
1. No Gallery Sponsorship Required
Superfine is allowing individual artists to participate without gallery sponsorship. Yet the fair is targeting artists who could be seen as not good at selling their art. So the result is that the level of the exhibition can be less high, a bit amateur, compared to other fairs. They are compensating for this by providing expert tips on-site and a podcast.
Many artists with an entrepreneurial mindset don’t need gallery representation. But in that case, do they need an art fair?
2. Diverse Geographic Locations
Superfine holds different fairs throughout the U.S., New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Washington, Savannah, and finally Seattle for this review. These many sites give possibilities for Americans and countries around the US.
3. Elegant Setting
Seattle’s venue was an elegant event space often used for weddings, located in an up-and-coming neighborhood with galleries and trendy shops. The two-floored venue was clean and well-lit, with a reception desk on the first floor and the exhibition spread over two levels.
4. Diversity and proximity
About 30 artists participated, with a traditional focus mainly on paintings, though there were also some installations, sculptures, and ceramics. Compared to other fairs, the small number of booths gives more intimacy and allows proximity between the artists and collectors. The bad aspect is that the event wasn’t as attractive as Seattle’s main fair.
Superfine Art Fair Reviews
Review #1: Into the Art
“I would say that the biggest difference is that some of the shows are so well known that there are sometimes thousands of people at some of the shows that I’ve been to, and this show is really intimate and not as busy, but the people that come here are really into the art.”
– Alexander Pattinson
Alexander and Robert Pattinson work together on their 3D shadow box art.
Here is their official website.
Review #2: Pricing advice
“So they had some guidelines that were helpful to kind of, you know, they said approximately half of your work should be in a particular price range. And then, you know, a quarter should be below, and a quarter should be above. And so that was helpful for me because I’ve never priced things that are this high before. To have a little confidence in pricing things higher than I probably would. I probably would have undervalued myself a little bit.”
– Amanda Woodcock
Review #3: Difference with the Other Art Fair
– Emily Maddigan
Superfine Art Fair Selling Tips
Pricing Art at Superfine
There is a suggested price range at Superfine, ideally between $500 to $2,000. But there are exceptions. Despite the guideline, some artworks are exceptionally priced higher, up to $5,000, $6,000, or $7,000, but not over $10,000.
Is Superfine worth it for artists?
If you’re an artist with an entrepreneurial spirit and have already honed your communication and sales skills, Superfine can be a good choice for elevating your art business. Contrarily, caution is advised if you’re considering Superfine solely because you’ve struggled to sell your work independently or through a gallery. The platform may not magically solve your sales woes and could lead to failure. However, failure is a part of the learning curve.
How much is a booth at Superfine art fair?
Artists should be mindful of the return on investment while setting their artwork prices for the fair. The silver lining with Superfine? They don’t take a cut from your art sales. However, there’s a catch: an 8-foot booth rental will set you back about $2,500 US dollars. So, remember to factor this in when shaping your pricing plan.
Selling Prints and Diverse Inventory
Superfine is your playground for both originals and prints. Variety is your best friend there. Why? Because offering artwork at a range of price points—starting at a cool $50—opens doors to wallets of all sizes. yet no one said “affordable” has to mean “bargain bin.” Elevate those prints and make them one-of-a-kind. Consider hand-embellishment; it’s an excellent way to stand out without selling out.
What Sells Best at Superfine
Location-based artworks, such as Pacific Northwest mountain scenes, consistently perform well in sales for the Seattle venue. This trend is driven not merely by aesthetic value but by emotional resonance. Buyers often seek pieces that personally connect them to familiar landscapes or experiences. New York Cityscape also sells very well.
Sharing enthusiasm
Success can be attributed to showing work an artist is passionate about. Authentic enthusiasm was contagious, enabling him to connect personally with the audience. Being authentic and passionate about one’s work may lead to a better reaction and more sales. Art can be contextualized in a way that resonates with audiences. For example, the Artist Brendan Duckley connected with his audience through his work about transgender experiences, which resonated with parents of transgender children.
Artists as Salespeople
At Superfine, artists have dual roles and need to be both creators and salespeople, representing themselves and their work. So they have to do the job the gallerist does, and the Superfine setting allows for a more direct and personal interaction between artists and audiences: this is a key factor for selling or networking.
Many young artists are criticizing the fact galleries take 50 percent while they do all the work. After this experience, they might change their point of view.
Leverage Intimacy: Understanding Audience Needs
Artists need to consider the motivations and desires of their audience, tailoring their presentation and communication to connect on a personal level. The intimate setting of Superfine can be a major advantage for artists who know how to use it effectively. So it comes to the importance of good storytelling for sales: An interviewed collector highlighted the importance of the artist’s story and conversation in her decision to purchase a piece. The ability to associate a piece with the artist’s face and story can be crucial.
Preparing payment methods
Diversifying payment methods is vital at this fair, especially if the artists come from abroad. Carrying large amounts of cash is impractical. Potential solutions, such as using online platforms like Shopify for transactions, are suggested, despite the fees that may be involved.
It can be difficult to deal with U.S. visa restrictions for artists from other countries, such as Canada. Because artists are not just tourists there, they are selling their art. The advice here is to seek local legal help or contact artist organizations for guidance on visa issues. Just in case.
Engaging Art
Interactive Strategies
One good idea is to create artwork on-site and engage potential buyers in the creative process. This approach could forge a connection with the audience and possibly boost sales. Most artists are just waiting in the fair, and proposing some interactions will make your booth alive. Creating art on the spot and engaging the audience in the process (An example of a Chinese artist who gave away free napkins with watercolor clouds)
Handing Out Small Artworks
Artists can distribute small yet captivating art pieces during an art fair. Handing out these mini treasures isn’t just about generosity. It’s a clever move to leave a memorable impression and foster a bond with those who might become future collectors. Though seemingly small, these gestures can pave the way for bigger engagements and long-term relationships with art enthusiasts.
Using Appearance to Break the Ice
An artist’s personal style, like wearing a hand-painted t-shirt or having a unique hairstyle, can serve as a way to spark a chat with a collector. But it’s more than just grabbing attention. It’s vital that your look ties in with the essence or theme of your art. This alignment creates a meaningful conversation starter and reinforces your identity as an artist.
One thing for artists to consider when pricing their art for the fair is the return on investment. Superfine doesn’t take a percentage of the art you sell, which is great, BUT they charge around $2,500 US dollars to rent an 8-foot booth (2,5 meters), a single white wall, to display your Art. So keep that in mind when figuring out your pricing strategy.
Superfine Art Fair Q&A
Is it possible to get a return on the $2,500 investment?
Absolutely. The key lies in strategic pricing, booth presentation, and building connections with potential buyers. But you need to be mature with your storytelling and at selling; otherwise, you can see it as an opportunity to learn and use the booth fees as a networking opportunity.
How much to charge for each artwork?
This is subjective and should factor in your costs (material, labor, booth rental, etc.), the perceived value of your work, and pricing standards for your art genre. Aim for a mix: some high-priced pieces as anchors, with more affordable ones to cater to various budgets.
How many pieces should a first-time artist exhibit?
Quality over quantity. Showcase your best work that represents a coherent theme or style. For an 8-foot booth, 5-7 pieces of varying sizes would be a good starting point. So your booth doesn’t feel overcrowded while providing variety.