Artist & Creative Freedom

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Sorg on April 8, 2008 at 2:45

yes.

Plain & simple, yes.

If you happen to be an artist that makes work that EVERYBODY enjoys, especially people that can afford to BUY art, then you've got it made and your own creative freedom may be left fully in tact. Now art students and the hard core Art History experts might put you down for not being 'challenging' enough.

Wouldn't it be great if we could just make what we want to–oh–we can–just don't expect to either sell or be recognized as an 'important' artist. I've heard many times now that you can make what you want and sell what 'they' want in galleries.

Permalink Reply by Jessica L. Porter, Raandesk Gallery on December 18, 2008 at 16:26

Personally, I try to avoid interfering at all. When building an exhibition with a particular artist I look to hear what they have to say before expressing any opinion or vision I may have because no one knows an artist's work better than the artist herself/himself.

That said, often I am asked by artists for my opinion or to give guidance on a particular project. This is something I try to avoid doing but some artists insist. Therefore, I'm guessing that there are some artists who welcome the "interference" and grow from it.

Permalink Reply by Larsen Gallery on August 25, 2009 at 22:34

I don't think there is a clear answer to that question. A certain artist may make amazing quality work but the gallery representing might not have the clientele that will appreciate it and therefore sales would not be good. Also, many galleries do not have the business or artistic know how to sell works that may be "Challenging" to those who may not be able to grasp them. Either way, I think an artist needs to find a gallery that is able to fit with the work that the artist wants to create, and artist should never give in and create work just because it will sell, if you stay true to yourself and your art you will make it, well I mean of course if you are talented, hehehe... I persoanlly advise artist to think outside of the white cube, or gallery, and look at the trends of art production in our time... the traditional arts (painting, sculpture, etc.) are still relevant but with so many more forms of production today why stay inside the box of "Fine art"? Isn't the point of art to explore and experiment in an attempt to describe what it is to be of one's time? Food for thought!