6 Steps to Selling Your Art in Markets While Traveling
My first time selling at an art market was in August 2024 in Berlin, Germany. I had just finished my first exhibition (in Tel Aviv) and had many prints, posters, and notebooks of all sizes just sitting my house. I was about to visit my friend in Berlin, and she suggested that I bring my prints and try to sell them at her local market. At the time, I was a little bit skeptical. I really didn’t know what to expect, or if people would even want to buy my art or feel connected to it. But, I went with it, eager to share my collection and see the experience of selling. So I took off on my trip with my portfolio bag in hand.
I sold my art at a market called Nowkoelln Flowmarkt in a trendy area of the city. I can still imagine the scene, surrounded by new music and food, handmade artistry, soaps and clothing, beautiful nature behind me, and the rhythm of daily life. It was an amazing experience, connecting with Berliners, and expressing the stories behind my art. For me it wasn’t about making sales (though that’s always great), it was more about the conversations with strangers, seeing someone’s eyes light up from one of my paintings, or watching a child beg his mom for one of my prints.
Me at my first market in Berlin, Germany.
Photo credit: Miri Smerling
Since then, I’ve gotten the chance to sell my art in markets in Switzerland, Greece, Panama, and Israel. Over time, I’ve found a rhythm that makes the experience smoother and more enjoyable. The following are six steps that have helped me share my art on the road (and even nearby), and maybe they’ll spark something for you too.
1. Research the Markets Available
Before you bring your art to a market, it helps to know your options. If you have friends in the city you are visiting, you can ask in advance about the nature of the different markets. Some markets focus on food, some on crafts, and others are full-on art fairs. Each has its own vibe, crowd, and booth fees. Some happen once a week or just on the weekend, some are once are once a month. Some might be near the center of town, while others may be in a more trendy/artsy part of the city. Walking around as a visitor first (if that’s an option) may also help you even more, you can see what sells, how artists display their work, and whether your pieces feel at home in that space. Picking the right market is like finding the right stage, it gives your art the best chance to be seen and appreciated.
2. Understand the Local Economy & Price Accordingly
Once you’ve chosen a market, it’s important to understand the local spending habits. While tourists may be willing to pay more for meaningful souvenirs, locals often prefer items that are accessible and very affordable based on what their average salaries are. Take note of what similar art or handmade goods are priced at. Offering a range of price, such as small prints and postcards to larger originals, gives everyone a way to connect with your work, and shows respect for both your art and the local community.
3. Keep Your Art “Small-Bag Friendly”
One hard pill to swallow is that market buyers usually won’t be buying large pieces of art. Small, portable options like postcards, prints, notebooks, or tote bags are perfect. They’re easy to display, easy to carry, and easy for buyers to take home. Even small originals can feel special and collectible. The easier it is for someone to leave the market with your art in hand, the more likely they are to make a purchase. On top of that, you won’t always have room for large canvases if you yourself are on the go. As in, if you are going to be traveling between airports, on buses or between cities, you’ll want to have products that are easy to take with you. If you can make your products in advance of the trip, that’s ideal but you can also go to a local print shop in any city you are in to prepare for the market.
4. Simplify Your Setup
Selling at a pop-up market in Israel
Photo credit: Miri Smerling
You don’t need a fancy, elaborate booth to sell your work. In fact, the simpler your setup, the more approachable it feels. A bright tablecloth, a small easel, or a string with clips for prints can create a more inviting display without weighing down your luggage. A clean, simple setup lets your art be seen and gives you the space to focus on connecting with people rather than fussing with displays. In most cases, established art markets will have tables you can rent. Often you may have to sign up in advance (usually a few days or a week in advance) to reserve a table. You simply contact the head of the market and ask for the information on getting a booth or table. Typically the price for a table is around five or ten dollars, but it can be more depending how upscale the market is. Sometimes, it may even be free to sell at the market. In rare cases where the tables are not provided, I recommend going to a home-goods / camping store and getting a simple large foldable table in preparation for the market. You can sell this table easily on Facebook marketplace or sell to a local once you leave that city.
5. Share Your Art and Share the Story Behind Your Work
Once you are actually at the market, connection is everything. While market-goers do need to first like the products you are selling, people buy stories as much as they buy art. When I tell a buyer that my art was inspired by a mystical forest in Peru, an afternoon at a quiet lake in Berlin, or a piece capturing a field of flowers from my area — the story behind the painting makes it more memorable. Speaking from the heart has shown to have the greatest dividends, no need for a rehearsed pitch. When someone understands where your work comes from, the methods used, the inspiration, they’re not just buying a painting or a print, they’re taking home a moment, a feeling, or a memory you’ve created.
6. Give Them Ways to Stay Connected
Not everyone will buy immediately, but many people want to follow your journey and see more. Something that I’ve done to make it easier to join my journey is having a QR code linking to my Instagram handle and listing my website, or having a stack of business cards. These connections often have often turned into future participants for my workshops, repeat buyers, instagram followers, or simply the community that has come along for the journey. Maybe that’s even you, the one reading this right now! For me, markets are as much about planting seeds and networking as they are about selling.
Some Closing Thoughts
Selling art in markets while traveling has truly been one of the greatest highlights of my art career thus far. It’s been all about learning how to be the face of my art and share my story. Showing up for my dream and connecting to others who enjoy my work. Especially for the markets abroad, it’s been about experiencing a new place from the eyes of the locals, meeting new people, and letting my creativity flow into unexpected corners of the world. Each market has taught me something different, about my art, my audience, and myself.
If you’re an artist thinking about taking your work on the road, I encourage you to try it. Who knows, maybe your latest creation could end up in someone else’s hands on the other side of the world, but more importantly, the stories and connections you’ll make along the way will become part of your story too.
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