Show Up: A First Timer’s Guide to Art Festivals
Showing up is an act of faith. And sometimes, that alone is enough to keep going.
Words Piolo Cudal
Photos courtesy of DanaMatrix
December 18, 2025
By the time DanaMatrix mounted her works at MoCAF, the moment had already been years in the making. Like many artists, her story didn’t follow a straight path. Hence, in her first true exposure to the art festival ecosystem, she occupied spaces, suggesting a longer apprenticeship shaped by observation and persistence.
For DanaMatrix, art festivals were never a foreign territory. Even as a student, she frequented festivals not to exhibit, but to look and learn. “I used to see these artists when I was younger,” she recalled. “Now I get to exhibit alongside them.”
That shift, from spectator to participant, is what defines her first MoCAF. And in that transition lies a guide for artists stepping into the festival season for the first time.
Art festivals as gateways, not finish lines
For now, she described herself as a “festival artist.” She believed that art festivals are among the most accessible entry points into the art world, especially for emerging artists like her.
“Because unlike gallery openings, which can feel exclusive, festivals welcome everyone. It’s a big avenue for everyone. You see kids attending. It’s inspiring,” she said.
For first-timers, this matters. Art festivals are not just about selling. They’re about being seen, about learning how your work lives in public.
The daring identity
One of her biggest challenges going into her first MoCAF was deciding what to show, because her work does not sit neatly in a single genre.
Across three MoCAF editions, DanaMatrix was able to produce different bodies of work while slowly building a coherent identity.
The lesson? Cohesion does not arrive fully formed. Sometimes, it reveals itself only after you dare to show the work.
Selling is not the same as meaning–and that’s okay
Festival season comes with pressure and every artist asks: Will this sell?
DanaMatrix does not pretend to have cracked that question because she knew that sales can feel like recognition, but not validation. For emerging artists, this balance is crucial. Rather than always filling in that gap, it is important to make space for growth without turning the market into a measuring tape for worth.
Vulnerability is a skill, not a weakness
One of her most well-received works was not made for a fair at all. “That was the most personal one. And people loved it the most,” she said.
It surprised her. Despite being extroverted, she once struggled with emotional exposure in her work. Over time, she learned that vulnerability is power. For artists used to hiding behind canvas, this can be unsettling. But festivals with their direct engagement, reward sincerity. People respond not just to what looks good, but to what feels true.
Get it out there
If DanaMatrix could give one piece of advice to her younger self, it would be simple: show your work sooner.
For years, her art lived in portfolios and was seen only when sent or asked for. She hesitated to even open an art account online. But, she learned that visibility does not have to be loud. It just has to exist. Asked if there was a moment during MoCAF that made everything click, she did not point to sales or recognition.
Instead, she remembered running into an old friend, the one who once opened her eyes to art festivals in the first place. That full-circle moment mattered, saying, “We are doing this for ourselves.” Contribution to industry follows, but it begins personally.
For DanaMatrix, it is about presence, experimentation, and community. And the courage to be seen before you feel ready. In festival season, and in art, showing up is where everything starts.
