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All Art Writing
This page serves as a comprehensive index of my arts writing, research, and professional practice articles focused on contemporary art, artist career development, gallery representation, artist income streams, arts funding, equity in the arts, psychology in creative practice, and sustainable creative careers.
Here you’ll find practical guides, theory-based essays, and research-driven resources designed to help visual artists better understand the operational, financial, institutional, and structural realities of working in the arts today. Whether you are looking for information on grants, public art commissions, residencies, licensing, collector relationships, gallery systems, or professional practice strategies, this evolving library is intended to function as an accessible resource for artists and arts professionals alike.
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What to Do After Graduating With an MFA: Building a Sustainable Career After Graduate Art School
What should you do after graduating with an MFA? This guide explores how to build a sustainable career after graduate art school, including post-MFA career paths, teaching opportunities, residencies, grants, gallery representation, arts jobs, studio practice, and professional development for visual artists navigating life after an MFA program.
6 days ago5 min read
What to Do After Graduating With a BFA: Career Paths, Art Jobs, and Building a Sustainable Creative Life
What can you do with a BFA degree? This guide explores career paths and art jobs for BFA graduates, including gallery work, museum jobs, teaching artist roles, studio assistant positions, graphic design, arts administration, freelance creative careers, and more. Learn how to build a sustainable art career after graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree.
May 156 min read
What Art Consultants Actually Do (and Don’t Do) for Artists
What do art consultants actually do for artists? This article explains the real role of art consultants in the contemporary art world, including corporate art consulting, commissions, hospitality projects, collector relationships, and public art opportunities. Learn what consultants can realistically provide artists, what responsibilities remain with the artist, and how to navigate consultant relationships professionally.
May 86 min read
What Galleries Actually Do (and Don’t Do) for Artists
Many artists assume gallery representation guarantees career stability, sales, and visibility, but the reality is far more complex. This article breaks down what art galleries actually do for artists, what responsibilities still remain with the artist, and how to approach gallery relationships with realistic expectations, professional clarity, and a stronger understanding of the contemporary art world.
May 86 min read
At What Point Can You Call Yourself an Artist? Philosophies, Histories, and the Weight of a Title
The term “artist” is deeply charged, carrying centuries of cultural weight, social expectations, and philosophical contention. It is a...
Feb 23, 20256 min read
What is an Artist, Maker, or Creative? Understanding the Origins and Definitions of Creative Identities
In the modern lexicon, terms like “artist,” “maker,” and “creative” are often used interchangeably to describe those engaged in the act...
Feb 16, 20255 min read
The Role of the Artist as Curator: Origins, Value, and Contemporary Practice
This article explores the origins of the artist-as-curator phenomenon, examines its value to contemporary art, and outlines how artists approach and enact curatorial roles.
Feb 5, 20255 min read
Gentrification and the Arts: The Ethical Dilemma
Gentrification and the arts are inextricably linked in the narratives of urban change. Artists often find themselves portrayed as both...
Jan 26, 20256 min read
“Don’t Say Yes to Everything: How Artists Can Choose the Right Opportunities”
For artists navigating their careers, opportunities often seem like lifelines in a competitive and uncertain industry. Exhibitions, residencies, collaborations, and commissions appear at first glance as unequivocal “yes” moments. But not every opportunity is the right one. Saying yes to everything can dilute your energy, misalign your career trajectory, and even perpetuate a scarcity mindset, a deeply ingrained belief that every chance must be seized because another might not
Jan 5, 20255 min read
Art Writing and Language: When, Why, and How We Use Different Approaches
Art writing plays a crucial role in shaping how works are interpreted, valued, and disseminated. From dense academic texts to...
Jan 1, 20255 min read
Ownership in Gallery Agreements: Why Artists Must Retain Control of Their Work
Ownership of artwork is one of the most fundamental rights an artist holds, yet it is often a point of confusion or contention in gallery...
Jan 1, 20255 min read
Mutual Aid in the Arts: A Framework for Collective Support and Resistance
Exhibition piece on mutual support and aid, as part of Artist’s Way Project. Grand Rapids, Michigan In the face of systemic inequities,...
Dec 31, 20245 min read
Selling Out or Staying True? Authenticity in Art Under Consumer Capitalism
Learn how an artist can remain true to themselves in a consumer capitalist market!
Dec 31, 20245 min read
Feminist Art Theory and the Undervaluation of Artistic Labor
This article explores how artistic labor has been devalued, the systems that perpetuate this inequity, and the structural changes required to address these injustices.
Dec 31, 20245 min read
The Class System Within the Arts: How Late-Stage Capitalism and Hustle Culture Deepen Inequities
The art world has long been romanticized as a meritocracy, where talent and creativity transcend barriers to determine success. This...
Dec 31, 20246 min read
Knowledge as Power: Why We Must Talk About Systemic Issues in the Arts
The arts are often celebrated as a space of creativity, expression, and freedom. Yet, beneath this ideal lies a complex web of systemic...
Dec 31, 20244 min read
Fear of Success in the Arts: Navigating the Paradox of Achievement
Fear of success is a psychological phenomenon where individuals consciously or subconsciously resist achieving their goals due to the...
Dec 31, 20246 min read
The Starving Artist Myth: How Romanticism Shaped Modern Expectations of Artists
The trope of the “starving artist” has cast a long shadow over the arts world, shaping not only how society views artists but also how...
Dec 31, 20244 min read
Exploring Funding Structures in the Arts: Types, Value, and Impact
Funding in the arts is a critical component of sustaining creativity, enabling artists and organizations to produce work, engage...
Dec 31, 20246 min read
Arts Funding 101: Part 1: Dissecting Government Funding for the Arts
How It Works, Where It Comes From, and Why It Matters Government funding for the arts plays a foundational role in fostering cultural...
Dec 31, 20245 min read
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