Press Outreach for MFA Graduates: How to Get Noticed in the Art World

When you finish your press outreach, the strategic effort to connect artists and creative projects with media outlets for exposure. Also known as art publicity, it's not about flashy ads or paid placements—it's about building real relationships with people who write about culture, design, and visual storytelling. Most MFA graduates think getting featured in a magazine or blog means waiting for someone to discover them. That’s not how it works. The artists who get noticed are the ones who reach out first—with a clear story, a strong portfolio, and respect for the journalist’s time.

Press outreach isn’t just for artists with gallery representation. It’s for the painter who just finished their thesis show, the writer publishing their first chapbook, the filmmaker screening their short at a local cinema. It’s about telling your work’s story in a way that matters to someone outside your MFA program. A good pitch answers three questions: What’s new here? Why should readers care? What can they see or experience? The best pitches don’t sound like press releases—they sound like conversations. You’re not asking for coverage. You’re offering something valuable to a busy editor who needs fresh content.

Related tools and concepts like media relations, the ongoing practice of building trust and communication between creatives and journalists and artist promotion, the deliberate actions taken to increase public awareness of an artist’s work are part of the same ecosystem. You don’t need a big budget. You need consistency. Send one thoughtful email a week. Follow up once. Don’t spam. Don’t beg. Do your homework—know who writes about emerging artists, what they’ve covered before, and what their audience cares about. A mention in a local paper, a podcast interview, or even a well-placed blog feature can open doors you didn’t even know were there.

Many MFA students think their work speaks for itself. It doesn’t. Not unless someone knows it exists. Press outreach gives your art a voice beyond the studio. It turns your thesis project from a classroom assignment into a public conversation. And once you start building that track record, galleries, residencies, and grant committees notice. You’re not just promoting your art—you’re building your professional identity.

Below, you’ll find real examples of how MFA graduates have used press outreach to get their work seen, the mistakes they made along the way, and the simple steps you can start using right now—even if you’ve never written a press release before.