Ten tips to holding your first lettering exhibition
In 2023, the Association of Typographique Internationale (ATypI) announced it was coming ‘down under’, bringing their annual conference to Brisbane, Australia in 2024. They invited contributors from the calligraphy, lettering and typography community to pitch concepts for workshops, exhibitions and speaker roles. In its 65-year history, ATypI had held conferences in the Americas and Europe, but not Australia, so this opportunity was significant and I set about hatching a plan.
With ATypI’s theme of Crafted Technology in mind, I thought my ambigram collection could translate well as an exhibition, appealing to lettering enthusiasts attending the typography conference. To give decision-makers a visual of how the exhibition might look, my pitch document featured the ambigrams grouped into sections to look like my home, welcoming and colourful with designs dotted around the lounge room, sideboard, garden and walls.
‘Down under’ sounded like a great title so, without hesitation, the exhibition adopted the name Type Down Under. Soon after, I created a new Instagram page called Type Down Under to included in the pitch document. I sent off my application and started posting process videos onto the new Instagram page.
I gathered together the tangible ambigrams to see how many could be exhibition pieces, and if I had time to convert others into exhibits. The big quilled Garden was already framed, and the Stitches embroidered ambigram was complete, but I was yet to add hooks onto the back of NailedIt, or have Neon made into an LED light. Before knowing whether my pitch document was successful, I also:
made Acid Drop ambigram stickers to adhere on two skateboards.
bought a $5 Swing record from Brisbane’s Dutch Vinyl; had the Swing ambigram printed to cover the record’s centre and album sleeve; bought a record player to play the vinyl record.
made a third colourway of the Vision ambigram, then printed all three onto a 1.5metre long canvas to look like an eye chart.
custom-printed the Filthy ambigram onto a brown doormat from Etsy.
carved a groove into a woodblock to hold the Engrave ambigram metal plate.
printed the chain ambigram, Women, and the symbiotograms of Friend-Enemy and Calm-Wind onto circular vinyl stickers; bought three Lazy Susans and adhered the stickers.
It was fun revisiting the 2D designs while, simultaneously, planning to bring them to life as 3D exhibits. But what if I prepared all these items and was declined as an exhibitor? It didn’t dissuade me. I pressed on and thought if I didn’t get accepted then at least my collection was ready for a future opportunity.
Then the good news came — my pitch was successful and I was going to exhibit Type Down Under at Brisbane’s Exhibition and Convention Centre for ATypI’s 65th annual conference! Planning went into overdrive. I visited the venue, printed artist statement cards, decided best placement of the exhibits and when to deliver my furniture and plants. As a nice add-on, the conference room had three digital monitors outside the entrance and I was permitted to show ambigrams on those screens as well.
On the morning of the exhibition, I woke with an extra pep in my step and arrived early to start the record player. As delegates walked in, swing music was playing, the colourful exhibits were ready for viewing, and I was at peace knowing I had done everything I possibly could to bring the exhibition to life. It was an amazing experience, one that I hope to relive someday. In the meantime, here is video footage from the event and my top tips below that I hope inspire you on the path to your first exhibition.
Timeline of my ambigram exhibition journey
July 2018 — designed first ambigram, Griffith University logo
December 2018 — designed and illustrated June alexandrite ambigram
August 2019 — participated in Nikita Prokhorov's ambigram workshop at Typism; created Ambiguity
2019 to 2022 — developed a collection of 30+ illustrated and animated ambigrams
2023 — Acid Drop ambigram published in Typism Book 9
April 2024 — Type Down Under exhibition at Association Typographique Internationale Conference, Meanjin/Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre
July 2024 — spoke at Berlin Letters Conference, ‘Type Down Under — how I turned a passion project into a solo exhibition’
August 2024 — added ambigram vinyl stickrs to my online shop
Top tips for your lettering exhibition
If you’re keen to host an exhibition, I hope my journey and tips help bring your ideas to life.
Find the confidence to apply. If you have more than ten exhibits, you are ready. And if it feels a little scary, you’re on the right track!
Apply to the event as early as possible to be top-of-mind with the organiser. When submitting your application, include a descriptive artist statement. Here’s the statement I submitted to ATypI.
Gather together your existing exhibits and spot gaps or opportunities to complete unfinished designs.
Start writing artist statement cards to show alongside each exhibit. These need to be printed in advance so they are ready to display on exhibition day. Cards should feature the title of your work, your name, date (optional), and a short explanation about the piece. An added extra could be a QR code that links to your website, an animation, or preferred social page.
When you hear you’ve been accepted, visit the venue as soon as possible to measure the walls, doors and floor. Look for digital monitors and ask if there’s an opportunity to be featured on event screens.
Ask friends for help with fixtures and fittings, delivering large items to the venue, and collecting items afterwards. An extra set of hands is very, uh, handy!
Before the event starts, capture videos and hi-res photos of your exhibits (preferably in natural light) showing close-up details and wider views. Capturing this before the event starts ensures you can move around freely without time constraints or people blocking the view. Capture landscape and portrait footage for website and socials.
On the day of the event, take landscape and portrait photos of people looking at your exhibits. Ask a friend to take landscape and portrait photos of you in front of your favourite exhibits, preferably in natural light. These can be featured on your website and socials.
Pack down your exhibits and keep everything stored together, such as hooks, string, tape, book stands, and artist statement cards. That way, if you proceed with another event, everything is in close reach.
Soon after the event, write down your thoughts about the experience, including what went well, what you’d do differently next time, who you met along the way, and who you would like to thank.
