Making it as an Artist

For many artists, the very first exhibitions don’t just launch a career. A study of 500,000 artists between 1980 and 2016 suggests they can determine its entire trajectory.
Showing early in top-tier institutions like The Museum of Modern Art, Tate, or Gagosian greatly boosts long-term success.
Artists who start in smaller, less-connected venues face much tougher odds and only 14% remain active after 10 years.
Of those who debut at top institutions, 59% sustain their status over time.
The study highlights the power of networks: success isn’t just about talent, but about who gives you that early platform.
For emerging artists, this reinforces the importance of finding doors into the right spaces. For curators, galleries, and collectors, it’s a reminder of how much early opportunities shape careers.
On one hand, talent should be the ultimate driver of success. On the other, this study shows how institutional gatekeepers still play a crucial role in determining which artists rise and which fade...
Can artists truly succeed on talent alone, or does access to elite networks in the early years make all the difference?