By Carlos Talbott
There’s a code. Not one you can look up or read in a book, but one you must learn if you want your art to hang in a gallery and reach the public eye. Breaking that code is part skill, part instinct — and part mind-reading.
The reasons artists seek gallery representation are as varied as the reasons people join the military. Some enlist because they’re bored. Some are driven by deep patriotism. Others join to escape trouble, and some do it because they need the paycheck. Artists are no different. Some make art to pass the time, others are driven by passion, others see it as a way to escape their current circumstances, and many hope it will sustain them financially.
From the gallery’s side, they’re not just gatekeepers of fine art — they’re hustling too. Rent’s due, staff needs paying, and they’ve got to keep the lights on. Every show is a gamble: will it draw a crowd, get people talking, and actually sell? It’s easy to romanticize galleries as pure temples of creativity, but at the end of the day, they’re businesses. Just like artists, they’re trying to survive in a world where passion alone doesn’t pay the bills. We’re all playing the same game — just on opposite sides of the table.
But regardless of the reason, the goal is the same — to “make it.” And making it often requires breaking the code. You have to read between the lines of what curators are looking for, understand their tastes before they articulate them, and present your work in a way that fits both your vision and the gallery’s direction.
If I had to draw it, it would look like this:
Where Documentary, Fine Arts, and Commercial Photography overlap lies the sweet spot. That intersection is the trick to breaking the code.
Or is it?
The reality is, there is no code. And even if there were, photography is not about rules or strategies. It’s about expressing what we see or feel.
At its purest, it should be an unapologetically egotistical act — a reflection of the self before it ever becomes a product for others.
So instead of worrying about codes or systems, go out and photograph what moves you. The real success is not in breaking the code, but in breaking yourself open — enough to let the world see through your eyes.
About the author
Carlos Talbott is a photographer and artist based in New Orleans. Born in Honduras, he has lived in New
Orleans since 1983. His work focuses on the overlooked details of everyday life, finding beauty in what’s
often ignored. Drawing from the historical connection between Honduras and New Orleans—especially
through the banana trade—he brings a unique bicultural perspective to his art.
In addition to photography, Carlos recently began exploring figure drawing through a beginner’s drawing
class, expanding his creative practice.
Follow him on Instagram @carlostalbott