As an artist, go on social media—Instagram, Threads, Facebook—and you'll see endless posts about the art market's apocalyptic state: "No one's buying art anymore! Engagement is dead! I should just quit!" The complaints are relentless. For every public outcry, there's an equal flood of sympathetic responses and motivational posts: "Don't give up," and, of course, "Your art matters!"
There it is—the phrase that refuses to die: "Your art matters!" Those three words
have spawned books, podcasts, websites, courses, workshops, and infinite social media posts. Hell, I'm writing a blog about this overused platitude. Hypocritical? Yup. But the phrase wouldn't keep popping up if artists didn't keep asking: Does my art matter?
It's a simple question, but one that hits where it hurts. Imposter syndrome, self-doubt, and that shoulder devil whispering: "Who cares!?!" Yeah, those are all on my artist's favorite playlist, and I always ask them. However, I don't air those inner monologues hoping for pity, likes, or comments. Honestly, I think a lot of those posts are clickbait—misery looking for company. But maybe that's just me being cynical.
Let's tackle the question: Why do so many artists ask it? If we love creating, why do we struggle with this so much? I've narrowed it down to four key factors:
Monetization
External Validation
Oversaturated Art Market
Societal Timelines
Monetization: The Necessary Evil
Money is the root of all evil, but a necessary one.
Think back to when you first started creating art. Maybe you were a kid doodling or painting with your Deluxe Art Kit. Back then, art was created for art’s sake; you created it because of an uncontrollable urge to make the intangible tangible.
Then, life happened. You grew up, took on responsibilities, and realized money needed to be made. At some point, someone planted the idea in your head: "You could make money off of your art," along with the cliché, "Do what you love and you'll never work a day in your life." That's where the cycle begins… Monetization!
Suddenly, art isn't just about creativity and expression. It's about business, sales, networks, content, and marketing. If your art doesn't generate income, does it still matter?
2. External Validation: Along come the gatekeepers
Early on, validation comes easily. Your family calls you a maestro, your art is showcased in school exhibitions, friends admire it, and professors critique it. Then the real world happens.
External validation becomes scarce outside the confines of school. Doors that once seemed open now feel locked. This is where gatekeeping emerges.
What is Gatekeeping? It’s the control of access to opportunities, recognition, and resources by individuals, groups, or institutions. Gatekeepers decide who gets seen, celebrated, or supported in the art world—gallery owners, curators, critics, collectors, museums, professors, auction houses, market trends, influencers, social media algorithms, and artists. Yes, artists are some of the biggest gatekeepers of them all!
I'm sure you've heard all the, "You're not a real artist if..."
you don't paint in oil, or you don't sketch or draw well
you don't make a living from art, or you make money from art
you don't know art history, theory, didn't go to school or the right school
Add your line here____________. I digress!
Here's the truth: gatekeeping can serve a positive purpose.
I know— this sucks and I'm an ass for saying it, but let's look at it objectively. According to reports, there are 5 million active artists today (more on this below). In an overly saturated art world, gatekeeping can:
Preserve artistic quality and standards
Build cohesive exhibitions and experiences for viewers
Highlight groundbreaking or underrepresented work
Here are a few of the many negatives:
Exclude emerging artists and diverse voices
Favor profit over creativity
Reinforce elitism and outdated norms
Balancing validation and creativity is tough. If gatekeepers reject your work, it doesn't mean it's not valuable. Their tastes, experiences, biases, and market trends shape their opinions, which is subjective.
3. Oversaturated Art Market: When More Isn’t Better
Admit it, the art market is oversaturated! With millions of artists actively creating, the sheer volume of new work is overwhelming. Let's break it down with some mind-blowing statistics sourced from Contemporary Art Issue:
With 5 million active artists worldwide creating 25 to 50 pieces annually, which equates to 125 to 250 million new artworks annually.
99% of collectors are one-time buyers, and just 6,000 collectors spend over $100,000 annually on art. Of these high-value collectors, 83% are in the U.S. or Europe.
Only 1 in 5 artists will exhibit in their lifetime, with 5 million competing for space in 25,000 galleries and 7,500 museums globally. Most galleries are in the U.S. (34%), Germany (12%), and the UK (10%).
These are daunting numbers but highlight why gatekeeping exists. In an oversaturated market, curation is necessary to filter, showcase, and uphold standards. That said, like any industry, those in charge often abuse power to push personal agendas. Understanding this dynamic helps us navigate the landscape we’re working in.
4. Societal Timelines: The Myth of Overnight Success
During the Renaissance, becoming a “master” took 10 to 15 years of training and mentorship. Now, social media has us believing we can learn to paint on YouTube today and go viral tomorrow, creating the illusion that anyone can splash some paint and become the next Jackson Pollock.
I too drank that Kool-Aid for a brief minute. After hearing, "Start an Instagram, you can make money off your art," I created @cliffpowellart, posted some abstract pieces with process reels, and got about 10 views, a like from my mom, and a comment from a bot. At least someone DM’d me about buying my art as an NFT!
Next, I tried street-style pop art, creating paintings inspired by artists like Alec Monopoly, Wo$h, and Risk. My work was ok, but I felt like a poser—I’m not a street artist or even an abstract artist, though I admire both styles. Still, experimenting with them taught me a lot.
It wasn’t until I faced rejection that I had my eureka moment. The exhibition "Interplay: Geometric Abstraction" at 33 Contemporary Gallery turned down my abstract paintings. That moment made me realize I wasn’t focusing on what I truly loved: surrealism. Great art takes time, rejection, and a commitment to your passion. I even thanked the curator, Sergio Gomez, in person for rejecting my work.
Why Your Art Matters (Even If No One Else Thinks It Does)
Let's be honest, does your art matter?
To most of the non-art world? No!
To the art world? Maybe, if it can be found out of the other 4,999,999 artists.
To your friends and family? Sure, but honestly, only to a point.
To you? It should matter! Why???
Before monetization, external validation, societal timelines, gatekeepers, and algorithms, art was, is, and always will be:
Expression: Art says what words can't.
Healing: It calms your mind, processes emotions, and empowers you.
Meaning: Every brushstroke is a snapshot of you and a moment in time.
Inspiration: Even if your art touches one person, that impact can ripple outward in ways you may never fully see.
So, does your art matter? That’s for you to decide. Your art doesn’t need anyone’s permission to matter. Forget the noise, the metrics, and the gatekeepers. Create because you love it. Create because it speaks to you. The art that matters most is the art you make for yourself. And here’s one last thought: the more it matters to you, the more your passion will break through the gates and make it matter to others!
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