How to be visible in 2026 as an artist?
Over the past few months, I've watched a number of videos from people who have shared their experiences with significantly reducing social media usage in their life and going for alternatives. These days, I feel like this is something that many of us collectively consider, not just from a business but from a human perspective. I'm drawing on these to write my thoughts for you.
Social media vs. everything else
We creators use social media (later written as "SM") sites to share our art with others so that they can think, feel, and get something when they look at them. However, our carefully crafted work only gets a few seconds on SM. In fact, today it will only be seen if the algorithm feels like it.
That's why I started to rethink this all so that instead of focusing on SM, it's better looking for other alternatives such as: building our websites, portfolios, newsletters, blogs, perhaps making videos, taking our products to offline events. This takes more time and energy from us, but it's worth it. All of these are spaces where you can show yourself and your work better, and the viewer pays more attention in return.
When something like this happens, it can be a similar experience to being in an exhibition hall: people stop in front of an artwork and give it some time. Just like you are reading my letter now. ^^ Like I want to be there for others too. Like when we don't simply eat the food, but enjoy the flavors, feel the textures. When we are present. 🌷
Portfolio building, versatility
An artist, especially an entrepreneur, needs to have an own website. SM is not suitable for portfolio building, least of all Instagram. SM thinks in terms of algorithm, timeline and impression. If someone works in only one style, they have an advantage on such a site, but most artists like to experiment, their work is much more complex, and the creative process also has phases from the sketch to the final product. Many people share these treasures on SM - and professionals advise to do so -, yet if we visit such a profile, where there is finished work, sketches, processes, etc.... it suddenly may seems a bit eclectic.
On a website, however, we arrange everything as we like. We can create separate subpages according to different categories. For example: paintings and graphics; finished works and sketches. Or as it is now on my portfolio page: digital art, traditional art, projects. Following this attitude, the given subpages will be unified individually, while our entire portfolio surface will present our work in a broad way. And whoever visits here will focus only on our works during that time. 🌤️
How do we find each other outside of social media?
Based on my experience and also others' I came to the conclusion that the center in the online space should be our website and newsletter, maybe Patreon, streaming platforms (YouTube, Twitch) that our SM profiles support from the back, and not the other way. So let's build these first, focus on them. Make sure they are structured properly, upload content there and share it after elsewhere.
Good SEO (Search Engine Optimization) claimed to be still important today. So our platforms can be found in the good old way by browsing the internet. It has different ways and rules now though, adding that today a good name, brand, UI-UX is even more important, and that AI should be able to refer to us. (I am not an expert in this, but it is worth digging into it a little more.)
You can build relationships in person too, especially by appearing at events either as a buyer but especially tabling as a seller. It is a very good way to find your audience and community. This may seem like a lot at first - even I am on the verge of it - but as professonals claim: over time you can get used to it. Taking a business card with you is a good start. 🌱
In summary: what do I think is a good direction for 2026?
- Focusing on our main communication channels (website, newsletter)
- Creating not immediate but more complex contents (portfolio, video)
- Looking for alternatives, finding our community (streaming, offline space)
- Keeping fewer social media profiles by using them as an extra
- Slowing down, simplifying, being in present
I came to these conclusions by taking a longer SM break and spent more time with developing my other platforms. I deleted or hid several of my professional profiles, earning back a lot for my mental health by that. These things are dynamic for me too, but breaks and simplifications always prove themselves useful.
Thank you for reading! ^^