On adopting the mindset of an emerging artist..
No matter what stage you are in with your art career, you can benefit from adopting the mindset and practices of an emerging artist.
“Emerging” and “established” are common art world categorizers that can be both helpful to understand various art career milestones and when applying for the right opportunities, but labels can also be limiting. After all, wouldn’t we all like to think that we are all in a continual process of emergence?
We love the freedom, experimentation, and entrepreneurship that emerging artists embody. If you are at the beginning of your art career, double down on emerging strategies. If you’re looking to shake up how you operate or push yourself for further career growth, adopting an emerging mindset might be just what you need.
So how can you go about creating your own opportunities?
Reach out to your artist peers and organise a show or create your own opportunities
An emerging artist most likely does not have their work inside galleries yet, so a savvy emerging artist will create their own opportunities to exhibit. New venues for displaying art are a win-win. Innovatively presenting your art gives your resume a nice new exhibition line and helps you find new audiences and even attract curators and gallerists.
Even established artists are finding that gallery representation is not the only or even the best way to show and sell work. There are so many interesting places to show art and partnerships to be had when you think outside of the white cube. A key part of being an emerging artist is that you’re in a constant state of learning.
Genuine curiosity and an authentic desire to learn and form connections are magnetic.If you’re new to an art career, seek out other emerging artists who are also looking for opportunities to show their work. Just as you may have aspirations for locations to exhibit, who are artists or people in the industry you admire? Make a list and channel the openness of an emerging artist and reach out.
A beautiful thing about an emerging mentality is that you’re open to anything and to everything. Short-term and long-term partnerships and opportunities are at the tip of your fingers when you are approaching your art goals with a “yes and” framework.
Lean into experimentation to free yourself from your creative habits
Emerging artists have the freedom to explore and build their style without the pressure of past successes. Oftentimes the mediums and themes an emerging artist uses are their first inspirations and what made them excited about being an artist.
As you progress in your art career and develop your physical art practice, you’ll probably depart some from the freeing experimentation you did as a beginner artist. Tapping into your beginner's curiosity and creativity allows you to make mistakes and re-engage your love of creating art.
If you’re feeling stuck in your art practice or want to expand your creativity, allow yourself to step back and play. Great art is a product of the many experiments and work that you’ve created. Your best works are not an isolated product but the reflection of all your time spent building up to that moment of art creationout an emerging mentality is that you’re open to anything and to everything. Short-term and long-term partnerships and opportunities are at the tip of your fingers when you are approaching your art goals with a “yes and” framework.
Embrace the idea of gradual growth and progress
Most artists steadily build their careers over the course of their lifetime.
Being able to grow in your practice and art business allows you to find your artistic voice and settle into yourself as a career artist. When you embrace the process, you'll experiment in various styles, take time to collaborate with other artists, and develop strong connections in your art community.
While the idea of being discovered at a young age or immediately out of art school is very appealing, there are drawbacks to immediate recognition. If you gain viewership or other coveted art career milestones straight away you risk becoming a blip on an art world radar.
A rush of success can set you up for more stress and pressure if you don’t have a foundation of art business experience or the skills to quickly adapt. If you’ve gained early career recognition, wonderful! Now work to sustain that rush of accomplishment throughout the entirety of your career.