the other art fair: a recap & what we learned
This October, we participated in the inaugural Atlanta edition of The Other Art Fair. Not only was this our first multi-day art fair of this caliber, but it was also our first time exhibiting our work in person outside of Charleston. To get to the point: it didn’t disappoint.
Here are our takeaways from the event and how the experience will help shape the future of our art careers.
the lead up
To be honest, we thought it was a long shot to get in, so both of us were shocked when we were accepted. But that also came with the realization that the pressure was on. We had less than three months to prepare for the event. Aside from making enough pieces to fill our booth for several days, we realized we couldn't rely on the walls to display our work since we primarily create sculptures and vessels.
As a skilled craftsman, Jim got to work building pedestals and shallow counters that mimicked the clean displays you’d find in a gallery. However, we needed everything to be easy to transport in his truck. Using his engineering skills, he designed modular pieces (giving us more flexibility in how we set up) that were also collapsible so we could fold and store them in the truck bed.
The five-hour drive from Charleston to Atlanta was nerve-wracking. Every bump and turn made us brace ourselves because we had no idea whether our carefully packed ceramics and booth displays could handle the ride. Thankfully, everything made it safe and sound, and we were off on the mad dash to get our booth ready for opening night just hours later.
opening night
The show featured nearly 100 artists, and all of their work was absolutely amazing. For a bit, we felt intimidated and worried that we didn’t belong. Those feelings quickly vanished once we met the other artists (all of whom were wonderful people) and the crowd flooded in for opening night.
Art lovers, artists, gallery owners, consultants, and designers were eager to see what was at the show, and it was amazing to watch several large paintings sell within the first hour. We had a steady flow of people visiting our booth, lots of interest, and plenty of sales. In fact, Jim’s largest and most expensive piece was the first to sell, within the first 45 minutes!
That night was such a rush. It gave us plenty of great insights and helped us prepare for the conversations we'd have throughout the remainder of the event.
ashley’s experience
This was the first time Ashley exhibited her colorful, textured pieces from the color studies and becoming collections, and the reactions were amazing. People were delighted by them, even more so when they were encouraged to touch or pick them up. (The pieces are so tactile and fun, it’s hard to resist touching them!)
One of the most common comments she heard was, “Wow. I’ve never seen anything like this!” People were fascinated by the texture and weight of the pieces (many were surprised by their heft and felt it added to their sense of quality). She also received requests for similar pieces, but even larger.
What was interesting was that the outcome of the event was the opposite of what she typically sees in Charleston. For example, her neutral pieces from the restless collection sell well in Charleston, but only one sold at the event. Muted pieces also tend to do well in Charleston, but at The Other Art Fair, her more colorful, high-contrast pieces were the first to go.
By the end of the show, she’d sold 13 pieces, selling out of all her color studies vessels and most of her becoming sculptures. She was also invited to have pieces featured in an upcoming Atlanta event called Spotlight on Art.
The visceral reactions to her pieces and the genuine excitement and interest made her feel like she’s on the right track with her newest collections, and she can’t wait to push her work even further!
jim’s experience
This was the first time Jim exhibited his more sculptural pieces, and he really appreciated the feedback. People took extra care to study the different surface patterns created through raku and saggar firing, appreciated the elegance and quality of his work, and were generally blown away by the unique look of the pieces.
Despite working with a more muted, neutral palette and forms that combined clean architectural lines with flowing shapes, he was happy to hear so many people comment (unprompted) that the pieces reminded them of waves or the ocean. Given that much of his work is influenced by his love of the ocean and surfing, he was glad to see that connection come through in his abstract forms.
Similar to Ashley, he also received requests for larger pieces. Additionally, artists who had exhibited at The Other Art Fair in other cities consistently recommended that he show his work in Chicago because they believed it would do well in that market.
By the end of the show, he’d sold 10 pieces and had conversations that could lead to future collaborations with designers and other artists.
what’s next
It’s clear there’s power in showing our work in person. We always knew that 3D art doesn’t necessarily translate as well in photos online, but that became increasingly clear as people interacted with our work, both visually and physically. The texture, scale, and surface markings can be truly appreciated in person. Our goal is to apply to more shows in 2027 so we can continue connecting our work with people in real life.
We also realized that context matters a lot. Earlier this year, we pulled back from doing markets in favor of galleries, exhibitions, and dedicated art events (like The Other Art Fair). Being in the right setting allows people to take your work more seriously, and those who attend these events are often art lovers who genuinely appreciate the work. We heard this in our conversations and saw it reflected in our sales.
Despite having very different styles, we received similar levels of interest in our work for different reasons. And when we calculated everything at the end, we had made almost exactly the same number of sales and total revenue. It confirmed that there are markets and audiences for both of our styles, and we’ll continue to find the best places to showcase our individual work.
Although we’ve seen success in Charleston, we know our styles are evolving and becoming bolder, which may not connect as easily with typical tastes in this market. With that in mind, we’ll be exploring more cities throughout the country that may be a better fit for the direction our work is heading.
Lastly, we realized just how important these events are for building community. We’re so grateful for everyone we met at the event—artists, art lovers, collectors, consultants, designers, and more. The conversations and insights we gathered were invaluable, both in understanding how our work resonated with people and learning how we can continue to grow as artists.
We also really appreciated the camaraderie among the artists and show organizers, and we’re thankful for everyone who helped make our first art fair experience like this such a success.
Looking forward to the next one!
