An Artist is not an Island Why Helping Others’ Careers is a Part of Your Own Success by Lenore Cohen www.lenorecohen.com www.facebook.com/Lenmiz www.twitter.com/thatartistgirl We all know that collabora�ng with fellow ar�sts is important for the development of new ideas. How many ar�sts’ collec�ves spurred new movements or iconic shows that people s�ll talk about today? Just look at the Impressionists. Rejected by the tradi�onal salons, they were able to sell and exhibit their work only because they worked as a group to put together shows and promote themselves as a movement. They started a revolu�on in the art world, the likes of which had never been seen before, and ushered in a new era of modern art. An ar�st can’t be an island. If they want to be successful, that is. Today’s art market is highly saturated and fiercely compe��ve, it’s true. The advice I dispense here, then, may therefore be counterintui�ve, but I can’t give enough real life examples for why it’s actually beneficial to pass some of your opportuni�es on to other ar�sts. It’s easy to see why ar�sts working within the same style should collaborate on projects and shows. But what about everyone else? Let me state for the record here that, yes, I’ve been wary before of sharing opportuni�es for work with other ar�sts. However, my experience has shown �me and again that, beyond the immediate sa�sfac�on of grabbing the sale of the moment, helping other ar�sts has been the sole most effec�ve way for me to get ahead in my own career for the long term. A�er all, every ar�st has such a unique crea�ve vision that there really isn’t much of a compe��on for clients. What appeals to one buyer stylis�cally may repel another; therefore you should be confident in your own work’s ability to find the right owner.
Consider this recent story. I was granted the opportunity to exhibit my work in a Cafe in Brooklyn as the first in a series of rota�ng ar�sts. The new owner was excited to start displaying art on the Cafe walls, and I was excited to par�cipate, if only for a li�le while. The cafe soon came under new ownership and, with my art already hung up, I was offered the opportunity to leave my work on permanent view instead. I chose to con�nue the “Ar�st of the Month” idea and work as the curator, thus giving other ar�sts the chance to get the exposure that I know we all look for. Not only has this given me the opportunity to meet new ar�sts, but within one week, an ar�st that I had chosen for the rota�on called and offered informa�on about an upcoming decorator’s forum that was seeking exhibitors for their fair. Spots were almost taken up, and I was able to snag one just because this other ar�st had let me know about it before it was too late.