How To Exhibit Your Art In New York As An International Artist

Every artist wants New York on their CV. Most assume it is out of reach unless they live there, know a gallerist or have years of exhibitions behind them. None of that is true anymore.

This guide explains exactly how an artist based anywhere in the world exhibits in New York in 2026, using the Streeters Gallery Tribeca show as the worked example: the application, the logistics, the shipping, the digital alternative, and how to get the most out of the credit once you have it.

The show

Streeters Gallery New York runs November 20 to 23, 2026 at 101 Reade St, Tribeca. Four days: an opening night followed by three public days. Tribeca sits between the commercial gallery world of Chelsea and the independent energy of the Lower East Side, which is exactly why we chose it.

All mediums. No CV. No experience needed. Physical exhibition £120 for one work, £200 for two. Digital exhibition £45 for one, £85 for two, £115 for three. Zero commission on sales.

Apply at streetersgallery.net

Step one: apply from wherever you are

The open call is online and free. Submit three to five images of your work photographed in natural light, a short plain language description, and your details. Location is irrelevant to selection: the Streeters and The Holy Art network has exhibited artists from over 100 countries, chosen on the work alone.

If selected, you receive a confirmation with the venue details, delivery deadline and everything else in one place, plus an official confirmation letter you can use for your portfolio and, if you decide to attend, to support travel documentation.

Step two: choose physical or digital

Physical. Your original work hangs at 101 Reade St. You ship it to arrive by the stated deadline, or bring it if you are travelling to the opening.

Digital. Your work is displayed on screen at the venue and promoted with the show. No shipping, no customs, no return logistics. A high resolution file and you are in. For many international artists this is the smarter first New York credit, and plenty combine it with a physical spot in their home city.

Both formats carry the exhibition credit and both are promoted to the same audience.

Step three: shipping work to New York

If you go physical, here is how to do it without stress.

Ship early. Aim to have work arrive at least a week before the delivery deadline, not on it. International shipping delays are normal and a late arrival cannot be hung.

Use a tracked courier and declare the contents accurately as artwork with a stated value. Check your courier's guidance on shipping art into the United States, since paperwork requirements vary by carrier and by declared value, and factor any duties into your decision.

Pack for survival. Rigid outer box, foam or cardboard corners, glassine over the surface, bubble wrap around, and no glass in frames where possible, since glass breaks in transit and adds weight and cost. Acrylic glazing if you must frame under something.

Arrange the return at the same time. Book collection or return shipping before the show, so the end of the exhibition is already handled. Streeters holds no work beyond the stated collection window.

Keep it within the size limit. Streeters shows accept work up to 80cm on the longest side, which also keeps shipping affordable.

Step four: attending, or not

You do not have to attend. The show runs, your work is hung, promoted and offered exactly the same whether you are in the room or in Lagos.

If you can attend, the opening night is where the New York credit turns into New York connections. Collectors, curators and art advisors come to Tribeca group shows specifically to find new names. Walk the room, talk about your work in two honest sentences when asked, and follow up with everyone you meet in the week after.

Check the entry requirements for your nationality well in advance if you plan to travel. The confirmation letter selected artists receive is useful supporting documentation for a visit of this kind.

Step five: multiply the credit

New York is the one place where a single trip or a single application can produce several credits at once.

Pair the Tribeca show with the Times Square big screen showcase, where 40 artists share a screen in the middle of Manhattan. It needs only a file, previous dates have sold out, and "Displayed in Times Square" next to "Exhibited in Tribeca" on a CV in the same month is a sentence most artists never get to write.

Then send everyone who discovers you to a studio on Mostra, the zero commission marketplace built by The Holy Art, so the collector who loved your piece but did not buy on the night can buy next week, with you keeping 100 percent.

What the New York credit does for you

Galleries, residencies and curators read exhibition history quickly, and New York is the city that makes them slow down. It signals that your work has been selected for a serious market, that you operate internationally, and that you take the career seriously enough to get there. It changes what you can apply for next.

Frequently asked questions

Can I exhibit in New York if I do not live in the US? Yes. Ship physical work to the venue or exhibit digitally. Streeters Gallery selects on the work, not location.

Do I need a visa to exhibit in New York? Not to exhibit. Your work can be shown without you present. If you choose to attend, check the entry requirements for your nationality; selected artists receive a confirmation letter that can support travel documentation.

How much does it cost to exhibit in New York with Streeters? Physical exhibition is £120 for one work or £200 for two. Digital is £45 for one, £85 for two, £115 for three. Submission is free and commission on sales is zero.

How do I ship artwork to New York? Use a tracked courier, declare accurately as artwork, pack rigidly with corner protection, avoid glass, ship to arrive a week before the deadline and prebook the return.

Can I be in the Tribeca show and Times Square at the same time? Yes. Many artists do both in November for two New York credits in one month.

Apply for New York

Streeters Gallery New York: Tribeca, November 20 to 23, 2026. Free to apply. All mediums. Zero commission.

Times Square showcase: 40 spots per date, file only.

The Holy Art: New York exhibitions plus eight more cities on a rolling open call.

New York is not a dream city. It is an application.