The Create! Podcast

What does it really cost to "get chosen" in the art world, and when does it make more sense to bypass the gatekeepers and bet on yourself?
In this episode, we welcome back Sharone Halevy and Alex Mitow from The Superfair for an honest, unfiltered conversation about what art fairs actually are and why they matter for artists in 2026 and beyond.
We strip away the smoke and mirrors of traditional gallery representation to talk about the financial realities nobody likes to admit out loud. From spending $6,000 on shipping for a dream international show only to surrender a 50% commission and fund your own travel, to Alex's story of sleeping in a Paris basement for three weeks while losing thousands on an exhibition that looked incredible on paper, we get real about the true price of "exposure".
We also unpack why an art fair is one of the most powerful, concentrated feedback engines an artist can access, where a sale is just one small piece of the long-term value. We break down how to overcome the fear of representing yourself in a booth, how to turn casual visitors into loyal collectors, and why owning your narrative, your collector relationships, and your proceeds is worth more than waiting for permission. Plus, Sharone and Alex share an exciting look at what is next for The Superfair, including new fairs launching across the country.
In This Episode:
The Core of an Art Fair: What an art fair really is and the evolving role it plays for independent artists today.

Beyond the Sale: Why real-time, in-person feedback at a fair is one of the most valuable career assets you can build.

The Unspoken Costs of Gallery Shows: The reality of shipping fees, 50% commission cuts, and self-funded travel for international exhibitions.

When to Be Paid vs. When to Invest:
Be Paid: When a commercial business (like a restaurant, hotel, TV placement, or corporate collection) uses your artwork to enhance its own brand or revenue.

Invest: When you are actively building your own collector community, retaining buyer contact information, and keeping 100% of your proceeds.


Booth Strategy: Practical ways to overcome self-representation anxiety and turn casual passersby into long-term collectors.

Dismantling Art World Gatekeeping: Why nobody "knows everything" about art, and why owning your story matters more than traditional validation.

What's Next for The Superfair: Upcoming national launches and how artists can get involved this year.

Listener Perk:
Save $250 on Your Booth: Mention Create when applying or booking to receive $250 off any booth with The Superfair.
Connect & Resources:
Website: www.thesuperfair.com

Book a Free Discovery Call: Schedule a 15-Minute Meeting with The Superfair

Subscribe to Our Substack: Create! Magazine on Substack

In this episode, I'm (host Ekaterina Popova) joined by Bonnie Christine, fabric designer, artist, and founder of a multi-seven-figure surface pattern design education business. We talk about what it actually takes to turn a creative gift into real income, how to get started in pattern design even with zero experience, why she believes we have a responsibility to pass on what we know to others, and how she's built her life around her passion rather than the other way around. Bonnie shares the full story, starting in her mom's quilt shop, teaching herself Adobe Illustrator with no design background, and working up the courage to cold call art directors until a company offered her a contract.
In this episode:
Turning a creative gift into real, sustainable income
How to get started in surface pattern design, even with no prior experience
Why passing on what you know is part of the creative journey, not separate from it
Designing a life around your passion instead of the other way around
Why she believes it only takes 10 seconds of courage to change everything
Her "one thing a day" philosophy and the power of daily consistency
What she's building now with Pattern+, Pattern Magazine, and Flowerie
 
Connect with Bonnie Christine:
Website: https://www.bonniechristine.com
Podcast: The Professional Creative
Stay connected with Create!:
Join our Substack for weekly stories, resources, and behind the scenes updates: https://createmagazine.substack.com
Visit https://www.createmagazine.co for artist opportunities, open calls, and more

What does it mean to feel seen? Five years ago, the Tracy Piper asked that question and turned it into SEEN, an ongoing portrait and storytelling project rooted in community and connection.
In this episode, we talk about how the project began, how she has used her practice to serve the people around her, and what it takes to keep a personal project like this going year after year. Now in its fifth year, SEEN includes over 250 participants and five published volumes, with a new book and exhibition launching this July at Art Tower in Portland.
In this episode:
How motherhood led Tracy to start asking people what it means to feel seen
The ritual behind SEEN, from open call to painting to exhibition
Why the project is free to participate in
What she's learned from five years and 250 stories
Her new show and book launch in Portland this July
Advice for artists building a sustainable creative practice
Connect with the Tracy Piper:

Website: www.thetracypiper.com
Instagram: @thetracypiper
 
Call For Art
We're currently accepting submissions for Issue No. 59, guest curated by Indira Cesarine of The Untitled Space, deadline July 31st. We're also celebrating our 10th anniversary with an art prize, deadline also July 31st. Learn more at www.createmagazine.co.
We share regularly on Substack at Create! Magazine, www.createmagazine.substack.com

Getting a gallery to say yes can feel like the end goal, but it's really where the real work begins. In this episode, Kat breaks down what makes a gallery partnership actually work for both parties, from the signs a gallery is genuinely invested in your career to the economics artists rarely get straight answers on. She also shares the questions worth asking before you sign anything, and how to evaluate a partnership you're already in.
In this episode:
The signs a gallery partner is genuinely looking out for your best interest
What to watch for early in a gallery relationship
How commission splits, payment terms, and exclusivity actually work
The questions worth asking before you sign
How to evaluate a gallery relationship you're already in
Mentioned in this episode: Follow Create! Magazine on Substack: createmagazine.substack.com Submit to the Create! Magazine 10th Anniversary Art Prize: www.createmagazine.co/prize
This episode is sponsored by Hecho Lovely. Monica Mejia Davenport is a private painter, and Hecho Lovely is where that art becomes something you wear. Every piece is handcrafted from carefully chosen materials, carrying the same intention as her studio work. Discover the collection at www.hecholovely.com and follow the studio on Instagram at @hecholovely.
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In this solo episode, Kat gets honest about a lesson she's still relearning 15 years in: protecting her own art practice. An inspiring gallery visit and a painful past experience resurfacing reminded her of what matters, how to protect it, and understand the value of our art and personal relationship to it.
What You'll Hear
The artist's date that reminded Kat to get back to the pure joy of art
Her past solo show cancellation, and what resurfacing it taught her
Why not every gallery experience is a bad one, and how to find the right partners
How her first sloppy 100-day challenge changed her relationship to painting
Chasing validation vs. finding satisfaction in showing up
 
Join the Challenge
Kat's Spend More Time With Your Art Challenge starts July 15, 2026. It's a 21-day commitment to showing up for your own practice, open to any medium. It is not a painting course (though three of Kat's own painting examples are included), it's about reclaiming your relationship with your art, one small commitment at a time.
Join Spend More Time With Your Art →
Loved this episode? Send Kat a DM on Instagram or email info@createmagazine.com, she'd love to hear from you.