A Guide to the Art World for Introverts
While learning about art is standard fare for any budding collector or wannabe Larry Gagosian, there’s one thing those hours spent studying charcoal drawings in drafty studios or poring over Ways of Seeing won’t teach you—the art of extroversion.
For better or worse, the art world is a gregarious place where large egos and loud voices abound. A prerequisite for navigating gallery openings, art fairs, and parties while maintaining the will to live, the gift of small talk is an essential tool in the art world insider’s arsenal.
Here, we turn our attention to those who might not be so keen to bask in the limelight, speaking to some seasoned arty introverts for their tips on navigating the art world’s social minefield.
Bring a buddy
If you can, never go alone. If you are heading for a night of cold drinks and critical takes, it can be useful to have a partner, ideally the most well-dressed one you can find. “Make sure you walk in mid-conversation about something totally not connected to the art world,” one “independent curator on the grind” put it. “This way it will look like you just popped in and actually aren’t really bothered at all about who might be there (you are).”
Furthermore, this strategy allows for minimal small talk, for those who want to avoid it: It’s much harder to get trapped in conversation with a tortured artist when you’re already deep in discussion about where you and your pal are going for dinner after.
The only trick with this is to ensure you both understand each other’s signals. A subtle glance or eye-roll, for instance, should be quickly interpreted as a gesture to move on to the next opening, or the nearest bar.
Small talk tips
On certain occasions, small talk can be unavoidable. In the event that you do need to engage in it, you can learn a thing or two from these introverts, with one self-described gallery girl explaining that sometimes, a vague critique of the artwork can be your best friend. They recommend considering phrases such as “the colors in this piece are quite striking,” or “I find the texture really compelling.”
This way, you’re filling the silence without actually saying anything, which is essential when not trying to expend too much energy or offer a critical analysis without a commission first.
And if you’re really not in the mood for chit-chat, looking very busy is always a fallback. Furrowed brows and a phone in hand are excellent ways to look unapproachable and ward off any overexcited extroverts.
Don’t shirk gallery visits
Despite the grumbles, openings provide what one insider introvert described as “auto-socializing.” “They provide a nice structure to the week, without the commitment of having to make actual plans.” she explained. “Also, [it’s] seriously easy to Irish-goodbye an opening with the excuse that you’re running to catch another (introvert perfection).”
And never be afraid to leave an event that you don’t want to be at. Leaving without fanfare, such as garbling a vague “we’re running to catch so-and-so,” should be the closest you come to a formal goodbye.
Luckily, we live in the age of the internet. As one artist shared, “It’s much easier to DM a ‘sorry I had to rush off’ message afterwards, rather than risk getting stuck in a serious conversation about the state of the market when you’d rather be on the way home. It’s highly plausible you’re off to another event, but there’s no need to disclose that said event entails scrolling on Instagram in bed for four hours.
FOMO can be your friend
While the art world can often feel like an endless loop of social events, introverts can take comfort in the fact that they don’t need to attend every single opening or party to stay relevant. “It’s all about curating your own experience,” explained one seasoned gallery-goer. “You don’t have to be everywhere at once. The fear of missing out is real, but the truth is, most of these events blur together.”
As one gallery manager recalled, “The same group of people pretending to know the founders or the artists” often make the rounds. Stick to your priorities: Whether it’s showing off your tastefully curated outfit or getting in the right people’s good graces, it’s important to preserve your sanity and stay true to yourself.
After all, there’s no shame in avoiding the schmooze-filled chaos to dodge “a string of ex-situationships as we bounce between the same openings,” said the gallery manager. And anyway, you can always catch the highlights later on.
Reservations aside, socializing is a core facet in the bizarre ecosystem of the art world, and it occasionally can be fun. As one artist reflected, “I live in hope that I will be recognized for my work even if I don’t do any schmoozing.” The gallery staffer added, “You either feel like you are working all the time or never”—noble sentiments shared by all who’ve spent one too many nights on the circuit.
In this world of extroverted frenzy, introverts find solace in observation and are often the ones quietly gathering the best intel and, crucially, maintaining a grip on reality without getting lost in the fluff of it all.
