top of page
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.
Search
What Is a Studio Manager for Visual Artists?
This article defines what an artist studio manager does, how the role differs from gallery representation, assistants, and consultants, and when structured support becomes necessary.
Feb 194 min read
Handling Discounts Professionally as an Artist
Requests for discounts are common in the creative industries, but they can be fraught with emotional and professional challenges. Artists and makers invest significant time, energy, and expertise into their work, yet the request for a discount can sometimes feel like a devaluation of that labor. Balancing the need to honor your work with the desire to build positive relationships and secure sales requires a thoughtful and professional approach. This article explores the origi
Feb 26, 20256 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
What Counts as Art? Cultural Capital in Creative Fields (Part One)
What counts as art is not simply a matter of individual taste or artistic intent but the result of a complex web of social, cultural, and...
Feb 2, 20256 min read
CV vs. Resume: What Artists Need to Know
For artists navigating the professional world, understanding the difference between a curriculum vitae (CV) and a resume is essential. While both documents serve as tools to showcase your experience and skills, their purposes, structures, and audiences differ significantly. In the arts, where professional trajectories often involve a combination of exhibitions, teaching, and grants, the distinction is even more critical. This article explores the key differences, examines whe
Jan 21, 20254 min read
How to Identify Reputable Art Opportunities: Deciphering Value and Avoiding Exploitation
Opportunities for artists—exhibitions, residencies, grants, markets, and community projects—are often presented as pivotal steps toward...
Jan 12, 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
Insurance in Gallery Agreements: Safeguarding Artwork Against Loss, Theft, Damage, and Beyond
In the professional art world, insurance is one of the most critical—and often overlooked—components of a gallery contract. Artists...
Jan 1, 20255 min read
The Importance of an Inventory List in Gallery Contracts
This article explores the purpose of an inventory list in a gallery agreement
Jan 1, 20254 min read
How to Write a Concise and Impactful Artist Statement
This guide outlines a step-by-step process for crafting an artist statement that effectively conveys an artist's work.
Jan 1, 20254 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
Learned Helplessness in the Arts: Psychological and Sociological Effects of Creative Paralysis
Learned helplessness, first studied by psychologists Martin Seligman and Steven Maier in the 1960s, describes a condition where repeated...
Dec 31, 20246 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
bottom of page