A First Choice Every Young Artist Has to Make

Entering the art world often feels overwhelming, not because there are too many options, but because they are rarely clearly named. One of the first and most important decisions a young artist has to make is what kind of art they want to make — and where they want it to live.

Not all art operates under the same logic, expectations, or structures. Understanding this early can save years of confusion, frustration, and misdirected effort.

Choosing Your Direction

Very broadly, artistic practices today can be approached through different intentions:

Some artists focus on commercial or applied art — work that is designed to be sold directly, commissioned, reproduced, or used in specific contexts. This includes illustration, design, decorative art, and many forms of craft. These practices can be deeply skilled, meaningful, and culturally relevant, but they usually follow market-driven rules.

Others are drawn to fine art or craft-based practices, where the object itself — painting, sculpture, ceramic work, photography — is central. These practices often balance between personal expression, material mastery, and market visibility.

And then there is contemporary art — not as a medium, but as a system.

Contemporary Art as a System

Contemporary art is not defined by what it looks like, but by how it operates.

It is a highly formalized field with its own:

• institutions (museums, biennials, kunsthalles),
• presentation formats (exhibitions, statements, portfolios),
• languages (theoretical, contextual, critical),
• and validation structures (curators, critics, funding bodies).

If you choose to engage with contemporary art, it is important to understand that skill alone is not enough. Context, concept, positioning, and articulation are essential parts of the work.

This does not mean contemporary art is inaccessible — but it does mean it requires learning its rules before attempting to break them.

Why This Choice Matters

Problems often arise when artists:

• expect contemporary art recognition while presenting themselves like commercial creators,
• or reject the structures of contemporary art without understanding them,
• or feel frustrated because their work is “not understood” — when it is simply placed in the wrong context.

None of these paths are better than the others.
But they are not interchangeable.

Knowing where you want to operate allows you to:

• develop appropriate work,
• speak the right language,
• reach the right audience,
• and set realistic expectations for yourself.

This clarity is not limiting — it is grounding.