How To Become An Artist In Hong Kong

Becoming an artist in Hong Kong and launching a career in the fine art world can seem like a daunting task but it doesn't need to be. We walk you through how to become an artist in Hong Kong and make those first steps into the Hong Kong art scene.

Key Takeaways

• The first thing you need to do is create! Create art that is personal to you and that you care about.

  
  

• Get your work out there! Start sharing your work on social media and build a website. Approach bars, restaurants and cafes to exhibit your artwork. Alternatively think about doing a small pop up to host your own exhibition. Exhibiting your own artwork is great way to develop and curate your own work.

  
  

• Consider joining an organisation or collective such as the Hong Kong Arts Collective. You can also try the Lamma Arts Collective or the Hong Kong Society of Illustrators.

  
  

• Get yourself out there! Go to exhibitions and introduce yourself. Engage with local artists and get a feel for the local art scene. You need to understand the art scene and where your work might fit in so talking to other artists and galleries is a great place to start. You can also follow and read blogs by Hong Kong artists such as The Quiet Place to get a better understanding of the Hong Kong art scene.

  
  

• Start contacting galleries you would like to work with that might be a good fit for you. There are a number of great galleries in Hong Kong that support Hong Kong based artists including the Stallery, Blue Lotus Gallery, Gallery Exit, Yrellag Gallery to name a few. For a full list of galleries please see our directory. You might not be successful the first time but keep developing your style and pushing forwards.

  
  

• Participate in local and international art competitions. Winning awards in art competitions is a great way to get noticed by galleries and art collectors and boost your career.

  
  

• Get press. Get in touch with local newspapers, magazines and blogs. Writers are always looking for content. Try to come up with an interesting story about why they should feature you. In Hong Kong you can also try local arts publications like Artomity and Still / Loud.

  
  

• Consider joining a online community to sell your artwork through their online presence. You can do this by joining organisations such as the Hong Kong Arts Collective as well as other companies such as Artbridger, Vzow and Saatchi Art.

  
  

• Lastly keep creating and enjoy the journey!
  

Photograph: courtesy Pete Ross

The Hong Kong Arts Collective

The Hong Kong Arts Collective is one of Hong Kong's largest artist collectives with over 150 active artists. You can apply to join any time through their website. The Hong Kong Arts Collective is a curated platform so not all artists are accepted. They typically look for artists with their own style, a developed portfolio and active participation and involvement in the Hong Kong art scene whether through pop-up exhibitions or privately organised exhibitions in restaurants and bars etc.

Lamma Arts Collective

Based on the idyllic Lamma island, Lamma Arts Collective is the heart of the Lamma art scene. They host regular meet-ups, exhibitions and events. Be sure to pay them a visit and reach out to them if you are interested in joining or participating in any of their exhibitions in the future.

Hong Kong Society Of Illustrators

The Hong Kong Society Of Illustrators has been running for over 25 years and aim to promote the professional stature of illustrators and creativity in Hong Kong. They have a member and associate member programme and can be a great way to help get your art out to a wider audience.

Visiting Art Galleries

Visiting art galleries is a great way to meet artists and gallerists and to get a better understanding of where your artwork fits. Engage with galleries about their artists and their exhibitions. Don't just talk about your work and especially don't present your portfolio of artwork during another artists exhibition opening. Be mindful and appreciative and realise you are trying to start a positive relationship between you and the gallery. You can find a list of Hong Kong art galleries in our directory.

Getting Press For Your Art

Getting press for your art is a great way to get your work out to a wider audience. Try to create a story around your art and demonstrate why publishers should write about it. If you exhibit your artwork or if you get commissioned to paint a mural or illustrate a book cover then write to the press to get the most out of your success. There are numerous culture magazines such as Sassy Hong Kong, Timeout and Zolima Citymag. There are also art and culture magazines specifically tailored towards the arts such as Artomity and Still / Loud.

Artbridger

Artbridger prides itself on representing artists of tomorrow and being the gateway to the next wave of artists. They have a online application and claim to be able to connect young aspiring artists with collectors.

Vzow

Vzow is a online platform aimed at building a luxury and hands-on experience for both art lovers and artists to collect and share various contemporary artworks. They have a open application where artists can apply to join there site.

Saatchi Art

Saatchi Art has been operating for over 15 years and is perhaps the largest and most well known artist platform on this list. You can join Saatchi Art through their online application. It can be a great way to reach a wider audience and curate your portfolio.

Conclusion

There are so many ways to keep pushing your artwork. The trick is to persevere and don't be afraid to get creative to get noticed. Most of all enjoy the process.