Blog

Should Artists Have Jobs?

Even renowned artists sometimes need help paying the bills. Composer Philip Glass moonlighted as a plumber, poet T.S. Elliot was a bank clerk at Lloyds Bank, and Franz Kafka worked for an insurance company.

Contemporary artist David Salle says that a young painter in the 1970s could hardly support himself with art. When someone was able to make a living from their creative effort, it was kind of miracle.

Does having a day job feed your creativity or kill it? New York Times reporter Katy Waldman investigated the question and interviewed people who successfully combine artistic careers with conventional employment, such as the author of this illustration, Albanian prime minister and professional artist Edi Rama.

Check out Waldman’s story and see what conclusion she arrives at.

admin

Recent Posts

Why Bauhaus Artists Still Shape the Way We Create Today

More than a century after its founding, the Bauhaus movement remains one of the most…

4 days ago

5 Smart Ways Artists Can Build Their Online Presence in 2025

In 2025, having a strong online presence as an artist isn’t optional—it’s essential. Whether you're…

4 days ago

Costume as Language: Venera Kazarova on the Art of Transformation

Venera Kazarova (www.venerakazarova.art) is a contemporary artist whose practice merges costume design, performance, and visual…

5 days ago

TOP 5 PAVILIONS at the Venice Biennale of Architecture

As the 19th International Architecture Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia unfolded under the curatorial…

2 weeks ago

AI, Web3, and Vitiligo Representation: Wildy Martinez Does it All

Wildy Martinez (wildflowerfields.art) is a a professionally trained designer and independent artist, blending together her…

3 weeks ago

Residencies as Climate Actors – NAARCA.ART

In the face of accelerating climate breakdown, artist residencies are emerging as critical sites for…

3 weeks ago