Exhibition Fargerik Palett: my first exhibition
- Eline
- Apr 22
- 4 min read
Updated: Apr 29
Hosting my first exhibition at Samsen kulturhus fall 2025 was a unique and rememorable expirience. I had a week and a half to prepare; plan and set up the exhibition, marketing, finishing off artpieces and make frames. Off course I didn't do all of this on my own. The personell at Samsen kulturhus helped me with planning and marketing, and my family helped set things up in the whiteroom. I'm truly grateful for the help, and I wouldn't have been able to do it otherwise.
Preparing for the Exhibition
The preparation phase set the foundation for everything that followed. It involved selecting the pieces—with meant pretty much everything I had painted since 2022—designing the space-layout, and managing marketing.
One of the first challenges was selecting which pieces to include. I needed a cohesive story that would engage visitors from start to finish. Since I had no pieces that matched—almost all my paintings were of different mediums, sizes, and styles—I decided to exhibit them all and arrange the artpieces by colour and type. I also needed to add frames too many of my aquarelles. Since Samsen kulturhus had a frame workshop, I was lucky to have the option to make the frames myself there. Making frames only a week before the opening got very timeconsuming. For five days that week I met up for multiple hours in the workshop, and had to balance this with pretty much everything else that needed to be done.
Selection process: I chose pieces that reflected felt cohesive next to each other. Many of the pieces were studies and all made with different mediums and styles.
Layout design: I selected by colour, and arranged the pieces like a colour palette. The goal was to make a harmonic flow throughout the wall. I also arranged them by type. One side of the room was for drawings and aquarelles, the other side was for canvases, oils and acrylics. In the centre I added a few extra things: some artbooks I had made, two self portraits and two extra paintings that didn't fit anywhere else.
Marketing: The thing I looked the least forward to. I have never markeded for something before, and definitly not something as personal like an art exhibition. I posted a bit about it on social media a week before the opening, and set up a few posters here and there in the city. Samsen Kulturhus also promoted it on their channels. This is something I will have to work more on in the future. posting about an exhibition only a week before it starts is not an ideal timelimit for most people, as most would like to plan their schedule futher ahead.
This phase taught me that preparation is not just about the artworks but about creating an environment where they can be appreciated fully.
Engaging with Visitors
One of the most rewarding parts of the exhibition was interacting with visitors. Their reactions and questions offered fresh perspectives on my work.
Conversations: Many visitors shared personal stories triggered by the artworks. These exchanges deepened my understanding of how art connects with individual experiences.
Feedback: Constructive feedback helped me identify strengths and areas for growth. For example, some suggested exploring certain themes more deeply in future projects.
Engagement showed me that an exhibition is not a one-way presentation but a shared experience that evolves with each visitor.
Overcoming Challenges
No exhibition runs perfectly, expecially not the first one. Facing and solving problems became part of the journey.
Frame issues: It would be difficult to exhibit my aquarelles without frames, as then there would be no way to hang them up on the wall without tape which can ruin the paper. I had never made frames before and had to learn the craft from scratch, and in the end I needed help to get the last one done in time.
Time management: I would have happily welcomed double the time I got to prepare and set things up. The reason for the minimal time, was the fact that my exhibiton had to be squeezed before another exhibition that would be set up only a month later. It was the sort of choice: a quick exhibition or no exhibition. Balancing exhibition duties with other responsibilities was demanding. I didn't get much time for anything else in the last week, but luckily my other life responsibilies at the time was minimal. I learned to prioritize tasks and delegate when possible.
Emotional ups and downs: Exhibiting personal work can be vulnerable. At times, I felt exposed but also motivated by the positive responses.
These challenges reinforced the importance of flexibility and resilience in creative projects.
Lessons Learned
Reflecting on the entire experience, several lessons stand out that I would share with anyone planning an exhibition.
Start early and plan thoroughly: The more time you give yourself, the better you can handle unexpected issues. I was lucky things went as smoothly as they went, and I had a lot of help.
Be open to feedback: Listening to others can inspire new directions and improvements.
Take care of yourself: Managing stress and maintaining balance is crucial. Making multiple frames with a history of two previously inflamed arms only months before, is not an ideal scenario. However, I still would done it again given the chance.
These insights have already influenced how I approach my work and future exhibitions.
Looking Ahead
This exhibition was a milestone. It opened new opportunities and sparked ideas for upcoming projects. I plan to explore some themes in greater depth, inspired by visitor feedback. The journey continues, fueled by the energy and lessons gained from this experience.
