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When was the last time you received a rejection letter?  When you applied to college, a new job, a grant?  It stung and made you question, perhaps everything.  Am I right?  Rejection is humbling.  It keeps you on your toes and gives you a little reality check.

Consider that an artist applies to an average of 5-10 opportunities a year.  These opportunities run the gamut from juried art exhibitions, to grants, to artist residencies, to art fairs, to mentorship programs, to graduate programs, gallery represenation, and more.  Each one of these opportunities opens the artist up to the possibility of receiving a rejection letter 5-10 times a year, on average.  Of course, if you are applying to the right opportunities for your work you will (hopefully) receive more acceptances than rejections.  However, there is no guarantee.

Just last month I was rejected from an art show entitled "Sweet Tooth."  The prospectus requested art for a "group exhibition that is all about decadence, desire, and craving. Artwork will embody this theme physically through vibrancy and the richness of color and texture."   I originally found out about this juried show by a friend and fellow artist who stumbled upon this call for entry, made her think of my work, and emailed me to say "In case you didn’t see their “sweet tooth” call!"  HELLO??? This exhibition TOTALLY screams for my paintings!  I truly believed that this show was meant for my artwork!  In the end, the juror did not share my view. 

Probably the most valuable thing I have learned the past 11 years from applying to artists opportunities is how to deal with the rejection.  I am not going to lie and say that it does not sting anymore, because it still does - some things more than others, depending on the degree to which I wanted to opportunity.  Rejection still sometimes even brings out my ugly comparison monster and I become jealous of other artists that received acceptances.  However, in 99% of all the cases of the rejection, my art did not fit in the exhibition/gallery/fair etc.  After getting the full information, aka what kind of artwork was accepted, etc., the artist can see why his/hers/theirs was not included.  The completely subjective juror, could have been looking for abstract work and yours was realistic or the venue needed a big name to draw crowds and you are still emerging.  There is more at play to rejection than your ego. It is the juror selecting a cohesive body of artwork that matches his/hers/their vision. 

While the rejection feels personal, it really is not.  The opportunity was not right for you, your artwork, or your art career.  It would have been a waste of energy and resources to be put in a show where your art did not fit.  From there, the people who came to see the show, purchase the art, or write articles on the exhibition, would completely overlook your artwork and maybe even think less of it if since it did not mesh with the rest of the show.

The "Sweet Tooth" exhibition has not yet opened; however, I did take sneak peak in order to remind myself that this rejection was a tip-off that the exhibit was not right for my art.  Judging my the one image that they are showing as an example of the accepted work, my theory stands.  Take a look to the right and place it next to the artwork you have seen on my website, instagram, or in person.  Honestly, when I saw it for the first time, I laughed at the juxtaposition against my own paintings.  Oh well, on to the next rejection letter, because, if you don't apply there is NO CHANCE you will get accepted.
Artwork to right: Lindsay Hall, Candy Coated Lush, 2020.