Stepping Onto the Gallery Wall: My First‑Ever Exhibition

Recently, I took a big (and slightly nerve-wracking) step—I exhibited my artwork at a local city gallery in my hometown. This wasn’t just any gallery wall; it was my first time ever hanging my paintings outside of my own home. Until now, most of my pieces lived on the walls around me, quietly filling each room with color, character, and a kind of quiet company. Letting them go, even temporarily, made me realize how much warmth and personality they bring into my everyday space.

The gallery is a small, community-focused spot that invites local artists to share their work freely—no set theme, no pressure, just expression. It felt like a good place to start, even if I wasn’t completely sure what to expect.

Picking the Paintings
One of the first challenges was simply deciding which paintings to bring. There wasn’t a set number, so I wandered around my home, looking at each piece in a new light—asking myself which ones were ready to be seen by others. It was harder than I thought. Every painting holds something personal, and suddenly they all seemed to say, “Pick me!”

Nerves, Quiet Moments, and Real Conversations
The opening day came, and I found myself standing beside my paintings, trying to stay grounded as people walked through the space. At first, it felt a little intimidating—waiting for someone to stop, look, ask a question. There were quiet stretches too, where the minutes ticked by slowly. But in between those were real conversations—people curious about my process, or just kind enough to share how a painting made them feel.

Meeting Fellow Artists
Most of the other artists were older than me, with years of experience behind them, and it was actually comforting to be around that. Everyone had their own voice and story, and I enjoyed being part of that mix. The gallery manager—an artist themselves—was wonderfully eccentric, full of energy and creativity that made the whole thing feel more relaxed and fun.

No Sales, But a Lot Gained
None of my paintings sold, but honestly, that didn’t matter as much as I thought it would. What mattered was that I took the leap. I put my work out there, shared a part of myself, and stepped into something new. That alone made it a success in my eyes.