The Honest Reality of Building a Solo Exhibition: What Every Artist Should Know

I’ve been on hiatus from writing here on LinkedIn for a while, and for good reason. My recent solo exhibition demanded every ounce of energy, focus, and dedication I had to give. It was an incredibly meaningful project for me, and I realized that I needed to step away from my regular commitments to give it my all. We don’t talk enough about giving ourselves the grace to take breaks when we know we’re stepping into an intense period of work. If you’re thinking of putting together a solo show, here’s the honest advice I wish someone had given me on what to prepare for—physically, mentally, and emotionally.

Have Clear Conversations About Payment and Contracts

Exhibition prep can sometimes feel like an endless, unpaid labor of love, but the reality is that clear communication with your gallery on compensation is essential. Discussing payment upfront, going over the contract in detail, and clarifying expectations are non-negotiable steps in this process. These conversations are not easy, but they’re necessary to establish a professional foundation. Make sure your agreement includes coverage for any costs you’re taking on and stipulates exactly what is expected on both ends.

Acknowledge the Exhaustion and Pace Yourself

Building an installation is intense. It’s far more than just planning and putting up artwork; it’s lifting, arranging, tweaking, troubleshooting, and often revisiting every tiny detail. And even though I had help, the process was a marathon of physical, emotional, and mental endurance. Expect exhaustion, and embrace the need to pace yourself. As an artist with a chronic illness, I’ve learned that pushing beyond my boundaries will ultimately set me back. Be kind to yourself by taking breaks and stopping when you’ve reached your limit for the day. Remember, setting boundaries doesn’t mean compromising the quality of your work—it means respecting your own limits so you can show up as your best self.

It’s Okay to Ask for Help

One of the most valuable lessons I learned during this process was that it’s not only okay but often essential to ask for help. Solo exhibitions can feel incredibly personal, and there may be a temptation to handle every detail yourself to ensure your vision is fully realized. But the truth is, no one creates in a vacuum. Friends, family, and colleagues who step in to lend a hand—whether it’s with the physical setup, the logistics, or even bringing you a meal—are part of your support system.

If you have the resources, consider hiring an assistant or seeking help from gallery staff for the heavy lifting. Asking for help doesn’t diminish your role as the artist; it enables you to focus on what matters most—bringing your creative vision to life. Being honest about what you can and cannot manage on your own is not a weakness; it’s a way to safeguard your energy and ensure you don’t burn out before the big reveal.

Building a Collaborative Relationship with Your Curator

Working with a curator can be one of the most enriching parts of the solo exhibition process. While you bring the vision and creative spirit, the curator brings valuable insights on layout, audience engagement, and context within the broader art landscape. Their perspective can help you see your work in new ways, often enhancing or refining elements you hadn’t initially considered. However, this collaboration requires open communication, trust, and a willingness to receive constructive feedback.

Start by establishing a clear dialogue about your goals and intentions for the exhibition. Be open about your artistic vision but also receptive to the curator’s expertise, as they’re skilled in optimizing the space and experience for your audience. If adjustments are suggested—whether in the artwork placement, thematic focus, or even lighting—consider these suggestions with an open mind. A great curator isn’t there to change your vision but to amplify it and help it resonate even more deeply with viewers.

Set boundaries and expectations early on to ensure a respectful, smooth working relationship. Discuss your schedule and availability, and let the curator know if you need any specific accommodations or time to recharge. And don’t hesitate to ask questions. A skilled curator will welcome your curiosity and respect your need to feel informed and involved in the process. Working together, you can create a cohesive, impactful exhibition that marries your artistic voice with the curator’s expertise, resulting in a truly memorable experience for you and your audience.

Accepting Change: Embracing Flexibility in Your Vision

No matter how meticulously you plan, there will always be unexpected changes when putting together a solo exhibition. Maybe a piece doesn’t fit in the space quite the way you envisioned, or the layout you sketched out doesn’t work as well as you’d hoped once it’s physically in place. Perhaps there’s a last-minute adjustment needed to the gallery guide, or an artwork needs minor tweaks to fit with the lighting or environment.

The key is to approach these changes with an open mind. Rather than viewing them as setbacks, consider them opportunities to refine and even deepen your concept. Flexibility is a strength in the world of art installations, and sometimes these changes lead to discoveries you might never have made otherwise. Accepting that things may shift allows you to respond creatively and maintain a calm, focused energy even in the midst of the unknown.

Remember, your exhibition is a living experience—it doesn’t have to be exactly what you originally pictured. Letting go of a rigid vision opens the door to a dynamic, evolving show that resonates even more with the space and the audience. Embrace the flow, and trust that each change brings you closer to the exhibition’s fullest potential.

Routine is Your Friend

The push and pull of working on a solo exhibition can disrupt your day-to-day life, and it’s all too easy to let meals, exercise, and sleep fall by the wayside. One of the most helpful things I did was to keep a simple routine in place. Prioritizing meals, hydration, and rest keeps you grounded and gives you the stamina to tackle the long hours ahead. It’s not about having a perfect routine but rather sticking to some structure to keep you from feeling completely out of balance.

Mindfulness Matters: Practice Staying Present

In the hustle to get everything done, it’s easy to fall into autopilot mode, where you’re just doing and doing without taking a moment to actually connect with your work. Practicing mindfulness during this process was key for me. Even something as simple as taking five minutes before the start of the day to breathe and center myself made a difference. Check in with yourself regularly. Ask, “How am I feeling? What do I need?” Keeping in touch with your own needs can prevent burnout and keep you emotionally connected to your art.

Set (and Respect) Your Boundaries

If you’re like me and you have a chronic illness, then boundaries are your lifeline. It’s tempting to want to do “just a little more,” but stretching yourself thin leads to diminishing returns. Respect the limits you’ve set and communicate them with kindness. Let people know when you’re at capacity, whether it’s taking a break mid-day or calling it a night earlier than planned. It can feel awkward to say, “I’m done for the day,” but it’s better than pushing yourself to the point of no return.

Create Space for Reflection and Recovery

Once the show is up, there’s often a rush of excitement followed by a period of exhaustion. Make space in your schedule to recover. Take time to reflect on what worked, what didn’t, and what you’d like to do differently next time. Celebrating small victories along the way can also give you motivation and keep you grounded. And remember, a solo show is a massive undertaking. Allow yourself a real recovery period afterward.

Putting together a solo exhibition has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my career, but it also came with challenges I didn’t fully anticipate. This process demanded every part of me—physically, emotionally, and mentally—requiring that I not only push forward but also honor the boundaries I needed to keep going. For those of us who live with chronic illness or navigate complex personal circumstances, setting and respecting these boundaries isn’t just a matter of preference; it’s a necessity. It’s what allows us to bring our best to our work without sacrificing our health or well-being.

Creating something that is both personal and public is a unique experience, blending vulnerability with resilience. You’re sharing parts of yourself and your story, hoping they resonate with others, but also walking a tightrope of logistical details, physical demands, and emotional endurance. Throughout this process, I learned the importance of self-compassion, of letting go of perfectionism, and of remaining open to change. At the end of the day, an exhibition is a living experience—it evolves, surprises, and teaches you lessons along the way.

If you’re considering embarking on this journey, I hope these insights offer you a bit of clarity and encouragement. Prepare as much as you can, but be willing to adjust. Protect your boundaries, but know it’s okay to reach out for support. Above all, give yourself the grace to take breaks and the freedom to adapt. Building a solo exhibition is not only about creating art; it’s about growing as an artist and as a person. It’s a journey that will challenge and change you in unexpected ways, and if you embrace the process, you’ll come out stronger and more connected to your work than ever before.

Learn more about my show in the article Memory and faith collide in “Descansa en el Poder” at Denver gallery by Ray Rinaldi.

Denise Zubizarreta is a neurodivergent mixed media interdisciplinary artist and Cultural Operations Specialist of Puerto Rican and Cuban descent, with decades of experience in various creative fields. She is currently an arts and culture writer for multiple leading publications that offer curated and critical perspectives on contemporary art, film, television, and culture.

Zubizarreta holds a B.F.A. in Fine Art from Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design, and is completing her Master’s in Arts Leadership and Cultural Management (M.A.L.C.M.) at Colorado State University. Her passion for arts and culture drives her to explore and challenge the intersections of post-colonial theory, identity, technology and traditions in her writing and mixed media works.