Do you want to get more exposure for your art – and eventually sell it – but don’t know where to start? Instagram for artists can be a powerful tool to achieve that goal. If you don’t have an Instagram account, you’re missing out on tremendous opportunities to get your art out there and connect with your potential audience.
As Statista suggests, there are two billion users of Instagram globally, which translates into a staggering number of people waiting to connect with your art.
Table of Contents
Getting Found On Instagram
But of course, it isn’t as simple as just creating an account and waiting for people to find your work. You need to take steps to promote your art actively. Build a raving fan base that cannot wait to see what art piece you will create next.
Whether you have sculptures for sale or oil paintings, you can use Instagram to draw attention to your work. In this blog, I provide 6 actionable tips on how to do that.
1. Craft an Engaging Artist Instagram Bio
Think of your Instagram profile bio as your elevator pitch. It’s the first thing someone will see when visiting your IG account. You only have a couple of seconds to get people’s attention with it.
Your Instagram artist bio should tell people what type of artist you are, whether an illustrator, a painter, a photographer, and so on. Be sure to include contact information that makes it easy for people to connect with you.
And don’t forget to include a CTA (a call-to-action) that encourages them to check out your online shop or portfolio.
If you sell physical copies of your art or prints, make sure to connect your shop to your Instagram account, as this will make it straightforward for people to shop your art without leaving the app.
2. Find Your Own Posting Rhythm
You may have heard that you should post regularly on Instagram, but there is no point in doing that if you can’t consistently show up. Let’s say, for instance, that you decide to post 4 times a week, but then, at some point, you realize that this isn’t a sustainable pace for you, and it only makes you feel overwhelmed.
You will no longer enjoy creating content, and therefore, you won’t be able to show up authentically anymore on Instagram.
Ultimately, the goal is to find a rhythm that works for you and your audience – and stick to it. If your goal is to grow your Instagram artist profile, aim to post at least twice a week.
Your marketing actions on Instagram will change as your focus shifts, and that’s completely normal! While sticking to a schedule is recommended, you can definitely change it whenever that makes the most sense for your art business.
3. Leverage Instagram’s Stories Feature
While often overlooked by those trying to build an online business, Instagram’s stories features have a lot of utility especially for Instagram artists. For example, you can share sneak peeks of your gallery space changes or your latest projects by using photo carousels.
Short videos, on the other hand, can feel like informal talk and allow your followers to get a sense of your personality.
Features such as countdowns and polls can make things even more interactive on Instagram. If you have an event planned, you can start a countdown timer to ensure your followers remember it.
Or, suppose you sell prints; using the stories’ polls feature, you can ask followers which of your art pieces they would prefer hanging on their walls. You can even use stories to share short clips from events while they’re happening or even stream live. It’s all up to you!
Get as creative as you can with Instagram story features. Keep an eye out for new features and widgets to make the most of the stories features.
4. Instagram for Artists Big Tip: Create Reels
Video content is currently king on Instagram. This means that if you’re looking for organic reach, these types of video format posts should be your main focus.
Consider creating reels that allow you to show off your artistic process and artwork, such as making a timelapse of you creating your next piece or showing off your most recent product. Or, you can create a slideshow of various pieces.
However, you don’t have to focus on only making reels about your art. There are other great ideas you could try that will connect you to your audience, such as making fun videos that highlight the highs and lows of working artists, creating a quick tutorial on a technique, and joining in on an art challenge.
5. Use Relevant Hashtags For Artists on Instagram
Hashtags still matter on Instagram, so when posting a new piece of art, you can use them to promote your gallery so new people can find it. But here’s the thing: finding the right hashtags for artists on Instagram can be tricky because you want to make sure they are relevant to what you do and not saturated.
By a saturated hashtag, we mean a tag with millions of posts. Just think about it: if too many people use the tag, your post will get to the bottom, reducing your visibility.
When you’re just beginning promoting your art on Instagram, it’s best to stick to hashtags for artists that aren’t very competitive, as this will allow you to get in the “Top Posts” section. As soon as your account grows and you have higher engagement, you can choose bigger hashtags for artists on Instagram.
6. Keep Track of Your Engagement
Instagram’s analytics allow you to gain insight into how your followers interact with your posts. You can track everything from the number of accounts reached and new followers to how many saves your posts get, to name a few.
Analyze this information, as it will allow you to understand what kind of posts people most resonate with so you can improve your marketing efforts.
Now, this doesn’t mean all your posts should be the highly polished type of thing, but it can help you to know what your followers usually respond to. Make sure to also engage with them on your posts by responding to their comments and starting discussions on their captions where possible.
Or, simply show appreciation for the fact that they like your artwork. Interacting with your audience will go a long way in growing your art account and selling your work. Also, engage with other artists and share some of their pieces that you find inspiring.
They may do the same for you in return, which will ultimately get your work in front of more people.
The Bottom Line: Instagram For Artists
It’s not easy to get your art out there, but Instagram can make things a lot less complicated -as long as you know how to use it. Use reels and stories, make sure your bio is clear and attractive, engage with your audience, and remember to track your analytics to see what’s working best for you.
And remember to have patience – getting visibility on Instagram as an artist can take a while, but it will be worth it once people discover your virtual gallery.
FAQs: Instagram for Artists – Making Your Work Stand Out
Focus on consistent posting, high-quality images, and engaging captions. Use hashtags relevant to your niche and tag appropriate accounts or features in your posts. Take advantage of Instagram Stories and Reels to broaden your reach.
Share a mix of content—finished pieces, works in progress, behind-the-scenes photos, time-lapse videos, or even insights into your creative process. Show your personality to connect with your audience beyond the art itself.
Yes, they do. Use hashtags that match your art style, niche, or themes (e.g., #illustration, #abstractart, #digitalartist). Avoid overly broad ones like #art, as they’re too competitive. Combine popular and niche-specific hashtags for better results.
Definitely. Stories let you share casual updates or interact directly with followers through polls and Q&A. Reels are great for showcasing short, visually appealing videos, which Instagram often promotes more than regular posts.
Identify your ideal audience by defining your art style and themes. Interact with communities and hashtags tied to your niche. Observe which demographics gravitate to your current content and refine your strategy around them.
Aim for at least 2-3 posts per week while maintaining quality. Consistency is more important than frequency. Posting too much without engaging content may overwhelm your followers.
Very. Your bio should explain who you are, your art style, and include a clear call-to-action (e.g., “Shop my art below”). Use a professional photo or a recognizable logo for your profile picture.
Opt for a business account. It offers insights into post performance and access to tools like Instagram Ads. If you’re serious about promoting your art, a business account is essential and you don’t want a private account.
She has 30+ years of experience in marketing/advertising with 12 years of experience in content marketing, social media, blogging, and SEO.
- Instagram For Artists: 6 Strategies to Make Your Work Stand Out - March 13, 2025
- How Artificial Intelligence Maximizes Content Creation Savings - March 12, 2025
- Facebook Account Is Disabled: What It Means and How To Fix It - March 11, 2025
