On the Role of the Artist
On the Role of the Artist: Creation Over Clout
I recently read something that a gallery posted on linkedin. The general gist was about how hard it is for artists to make a career in art these days. I was pushed to respond.
It’s not the artist’s job to break into the so-called “art world.” The artist’s role is to create. The “art market” responds to what’s profitable, which is only a small sliver of all that is art. A good gallery knows what it’s looking for and will use its resources and intuition to find it.
I would argue that one cannot create anything good if one is not living in coherence, and one cannot be relevant if one is not learning. To learn is to insert oneself into the spaces where one might find the answers. This is an honest, engaged form of creating, very different from marketing oneself or chasing clout.
I am in no way promoting becoming a hermit. Good artists are good humans, and good humans live full, connected lives. Also, I’m not saying money is bad; I’m simply pointing out that if someone truly cares for the arts and is in a position to fund good art, then it’s also on them to actively seek it out.
My original argument isn’t about waiting for opportunities to come, it’s about prioritizing your art practice. I honestly don’t think artists should waste energy worrying about whether galleries survive this age. Galleries will either evolve to become more discerning, open-minded, and proactive or they will be washed away. Maybe galleries, as we know them, are dead.
Capitalism, Privatization, and Protecting the Arts
Beyond individual artists and galleries, there’s a systemic challenge that we can’t ignore. Capitalism and privatization have spoiled many public goods including news, education, and yes, the arts. These things flourish best when they are publicly funded and accessible to all.
Artists, I believe, have a duty not only to their own work but also to protect the arts from the savagery of these flawed societal structures. This means advocating for public support, collective care, and spaces that nurture creativity beyond pure profit motives. There is more to say about the internet’s role here but for another day.
Seasons of Creation
For the past few years, I’ve stepped away from creating in the traditional sense. I haven’t painted much lately. Instead, I’ve been sprinkling my creative energy here and there with small acts, moments of attention. Recently, I planted flowers in my backyard, and I watch the sprouts grow taller every day. Yet the Arizona sun is harsh, and I worry if they will survive to bloom.
A decade ago, my internal dialogue was harsher. I would have berated myself for not creating, wondering, How can I call myself a painter if I’m not painting? Today, I am gentler, more forgiving, a tad more liberated. I am shifting into a gathering mode, pulling back all my leaking energy and hoping to come back intense, focused, and channeled.
At the same time, I allow myself the time to simply be, to let the wildflowers do their natural thing, while I focus on watering them daily.
Where Are You in Your Creative Journey?
I invite you to take a moment to reflect on your own creative energy. Are you in a time of intense production, or in a season of gathering and rest? Are you planting seeds you can’t yet see growing, or nurturing fragile sprouts under a harsh sun?
Whatever stage you’re in, be gentle and patient with yourself. Creativity isn’t a race or checklist, it’s a rhythm, a dance between pushing forward and pulling back, between doing and simply being.
This piece is part of a developing series of reflections on art, purpose, and survival in a shifting world. To follow along or join the conversation, visit MarisaMata.com.
