I am hosting a gallery next week and a lot of people might come
v-1.0-to-send-to-340-people-for-feedback
The rent has come due.
Next weekend, I’m hosting my first gallery, v1.0, alongside five other tech artists. Over 330 people have RSVP’d (and if you’re in NYC, you should come too).
That is a wild number. I thought maybe 50 people would show up.
Instead, I’m staring down the biggest event I’ve ever hosted, complete with a coffee bar, some sponsors, a DJ (shoutout to Josh), a vending machine (this will make sense next week), and a long list of shit still left to figure out.
Full disclosure: I have never hosted a gallery. So yeah, I’m a little nervous.
I’ve been thinking about three main questions heading into this week:
How do I make this a successful event for me?
How do I make it a win for the other artists?
And how do we make this an experience people actually enjoy?
Let’s get to it.
What I want out of it
This will be the first time I’ve ever hosted a gallery of my work. For the past few years, most of what I’ve made has lived on Twitter, Instagram, Reddit, and this very Substack. It’s been seen in passing, but not really experienced in the way I intended.
This gallery is a chance to change that. I want people to interact with the work. Touch it, move around it, ask questions, maybe even break it in the process. I want the work to feel alive.
But choosing what to show has been harder than I thought.
I’ve got older pieces I still like, but I’ve lived with them for so long that they feel less exciting to me now. Like they’ve already had their moment in my brain and they’re gimmicky now. But the truth is, most people have never seen these pieces at all. To them, this might be the first time they’ve ever connected with the work.
So I’m showing three data art pieces. They’re a mix of refreshed older work and some new things I’ve been playing with — one tied to movement, one to music, and one tied to the room it’s displayed in. I’m especially excited to lean into the physical side of the data, to give it form, shape, and maybe even a little chaos.
Beyond that, I’m hoping for a few things:
That people actually engage with the work
That I can grow my following and get people interested in the journey
That I can connect with other artists and the broader art world, maybe even some galleries
And that this opens the door to a v2.0, with more artists, more strange ideas, and more chances to share this type of work
But first, I have to make it through next weekend.
Artists supporting artists
The five other artists in the show all come from different corners of my life. They’re all practicing artists, each with their own styles and mediums. I’m especially excited that, collectively, we’ll expand people’s definitions of what tech art can look like.
Some have shown work before, others haven’t in a while. But one thing we talked about early on was how we all wanted to share more. Regularly. In person.
So part of my role here as the organizer is to make sure that happens. To give each of them a space that feels like theirs for the night. A spot to stand by their work, talk about their process, and be proud of what they’ve made.
Each artist is coming in with their own outcomes in mind, and I want to help bring them to fruition. For some, it’s about sharing something new and exciting. For others, it’s about exhibiting their work for the first time in a while.
I’m trying to let go of the pressure to make everything perfect. My job isn’t to control the outcomes, just to create the conditions for them.
What makes a good gallery?
The last, and arguably most important, piece of the equation is the attendees.
I don’t want this to feel like a traditional gallery. The space itself doesn’t match the white-wall aesthetic of a museum. It feels more like an artist’s apartment than a gallery. Cozy corners. Work you can actually touch. A place to wander through, not just stare at the wall and pretend you “get it”.
The logistics are still in progress, but we’re getting close:
The space can hold 300, though it’ll be tight. There’s a rooftop too, so people can get some air and take a break from the crowd
There will be a coffee bar, maybe snacks. If you know a snack company that wants 300 people to try their stuff, let me know! I will love them forever.
Photos and videos to document the evening
Of course, those are just the basics. I want people to leave with something — not just a QR code or a link to follow, but a moment that sticks. I know some of the audience will be more tech-focused, others more art-centric, and plenty who are just curious.
It won’t hit for everyone. That’s fine. But I want to give it the best shot I can.
Where my head’s at
I have work to show, and I’m proud of it. I want to push it further, but I’m also trying to give myself grace and remember there will be another show to share more work in the future.
The other artists are bringing work that means something to them. And a few hundred people are showing up, curious enough to come check it all out.
That’s already a huge win.
Of course I want it to go well. I want people to connect with the work, and maybe with each other. I want the energy in the room to match the effort we’ve put in.
The past week and the week ahead have been about getting everything in order and preparing for the event. I’ll be spending a lot of time these next few days polishing up pieces and tying up the event logistics.
I have no idea what’ll happen next weekend. But the fact that this is finally happening feels amazing.
For now, I just want to show up, have a good time, and let the work speak for itself.
After all, this is just v1.0 :D
thanks for the shoutout Pete! I just hosted an art show in Brooklyn - it was SO scary and unbelievably touching to see how many people showed up to support and engage. super excited for you! the world needs more things like this right now:)