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06/17/2005: "Famous Schmamous!"

Is there anyone out there who doesn't want to be rich and famous?

I doubt it.

From the outside, it seems like such a cool gig. Especially for an artist.
Galleries calling about one-man (or woman) shows, collectors oohing and
aahing over your work, paintings selling like hotcakes, money pouring in,
media interviews, constant first-class flights to Europe and back, hot babes
in limousines, art show openings. Madness!


And, as you well know, it's total fantasy. So, what does that mean for
everyday collectors and artists?

It means that we're stuck with one another. In a good way, of course.

It means that artists, especially ones without gallery representation,
really depend on collectors for their bread and butter. It also means that
collectors who have yet to buy the "new" Picasso must keep looking.

But for me, none of that matters. I say, "Famous-Schmamous!" Who cares?
While some artists are killing themselves seeking fame and fortune and some
collectors are stumbling over themselves always trying to collect the "hot"
artists, I'll just continue to seek out interesting, unknown artists who
create works that move me.

Don't get me wrong. If I find the next Damien Hirst, great! However, I'm
on this art collecting journey for the trip. Much to my surprise, I never
get tired of looking at art. I never get tired of talking to artists (email
mostly). It's a thrill.

To the best of my knowledge, none of the artists whose works I own are
famous. And forgive the blasphemy or perhaps ignorance, but their work
seems just as good as anything I've seen in the Museum of Modern Art. Well,
almost. I think that when you collect the works of "unknown" artists, your
motivations are pure. Love of the piece and desire to support the artist
move you to buy.

There's no denying that our perception of fame is the fairy dust that gets
sprinkled in all of our eyes. Sometimes, it causes us to blur the lines
between mediocrity and greatness. Of course, that's not to say that great
art in museums is mediocre. I'm merely saying that for me, museums are
masoleums for art. Works that have been canonized. Great! But there's
nothing like getting out into the real world of galleries and coffee shops
and art fairs and websites and seeing art that's being made NOW by living
artists who are NOT FAMOUS. Art that sometimes knocks your socks off.

We can really get real if we forget about the fame game. As you know, fame
is really about what other people say, anyway. Usually marketing wizards.
Illusions. And you know how people exaggerate.

If fame comes and you're alive to experience it, more power to you.
However, if it doesn't, why not just live and work and create great art
regardless?

For what it's worth, that will make you highly notable in this collector's
eyes.

MICHAEL CORBIN IS A WRITER AND AVID ART COLLECTOR

Replies: 8 Comments

on Tuesday, July 5th, Christianna Capra said

It is refreshing to see an art collector who collects art that moves him spiritually (not because some critic or fuddy duddy said so). Art is personal and if you have money to spend on it - then you should buy what moves you, what makes you "feel" something. I work with a prolific artist who has avoided the galleries for this very reason - didnt want to be controlled by politics, in fact he will NOT sell art to collectors unless he feels they are personally connected to the piece. It has to mean something to them - or he doesnt want his work on their wall. Prices are up there, but I have seen him work out "deals" based on the passion expressed not the fatness of the checkbook... I imagine that back in the day, that is how art became so important - not because some "important person" said so...
Thank you Michael for putting this into perspective -hopefully more collectors will adopt this philosophy.
Christianna
Colavito Art

on Saturday, July 2nd, daisy said

very nice opinion for us artists
thank you

on Sunday, June 19th, Andrew said

Michael, you're right about a lot of this. I also agree with Pamela when she says many people do not trust their own opinions. If art is bought like a fancy car, so others can see you with it and approve, then having a famous name on the wall in your home does the trick nicely. Or in a public space, where the townspeople can criticize you all they want, and you can just say, 'hey, but it's a Henry Moore...'
If you like e-mail dialogues with artists, drop me a line. You don't have to like my work, and I don't expect you to buy it. The exchange of ideas with a writer like you is plenty.

on Saturday, June 18th, lima whiskey said

Art is like pro ball: the chances of making the "show" are infinitessimaly small. Of course, the comparison breaks down at the point of the individual's freedom to proceed on their own...and much great art has been made that way. But this too becomes a very finite solution for those hungry for recognition. At bottom is the central issue of motivation and how it relates to the 'big' [universal] picture. A strong artist must make art, struggle to have it seen and sold and be prepared to die in the shadows. This has always been the case for great art, and, will always be so. If advertising is your metier, or traditional watercolor, you can depend on advice for packaging yourself and your art and probably meet with some sort of success...at least you'll wind up in somebody's slick file.

on Saturday, June 18th, Jonathan Benitez said

people like Michael made a painter like me to keep going with my chosen vocation in life.For us here in the island of Palawan in the Philippines, we are very far from the capital city of Manila.We do not care when the galleries snobs us,as long as there are collectors who listens to his heart and collects our works even we are not famous but we are living our way of life doing art from the heart.

on Friday, June 17th, horatio t d'birbath said

Thank you,Michael...
It's people like you that keep me immensly encouraged.Once I played the publicity game in my own underground way,maintaining a presence in the streetscape of a fairly bohemian city.I tasted fame,and it was bittersweet.
Now I'm happiest as what a friend describes as a gregarious hermit.It's,as with all things,a matter of balance.

on Friday, June 17th, pamela brooke said

wondefully said! the problem is that many people do not trust their own opinions. they have lost the ability to listen their own hearts and allow others to make their choices for them. however, i think things are changing. i know several artists making thousands of dollars on the web and avoid that fame issue altogether, but enjoy the money immensely! it's almost a paradigm shift (remember when that phrase was popular?) that people can now go on the web and in the privacy of their own home decide for them selves if they want to buy a piece or not. I dont pretend to be a great artist but in the past 3 years I have sold over 800 pieces online and I have many happy customers and many repeat buyers. People who have taken the risk and are delighted to find that the art not only exceeds their own expectstion, but they find confidence in their own art-buying ability. I have a good return policy so no one is stuck with something they hate!

on Friday, June 17th, Heather said

Kudos!
I completely concur.
One must enjoy the journey.
Thanks for writing these ideas so succinctly.
Keep up the good work!
All the best,
Heather Levy
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