Unpopular Opinion as an Artist

I know this won’t be received well by most serious artists, but I’ll say it anyway.

91% of the artists spend their entire careers building a ‘signature style’. 

But they don’t realize their signature style can be a deathtrap! 

Most artists want to be found. They want to build a brand of their own that makes them stand out from the crowd. They want their work to be identified from across a room. 

And, this is useful as well. This recognizability creates a sense of reliability and prestige. By creating a unique “visual IP,” they are not only gaining pricing power but also securing a historical footprint.

But, I think the most dangerous thing that can happen to an artist is to finally find a ‘voice’ and be predictable. Sticking to one style, to me, is claustrophobia—it’s the end of creativity.

It stifles the fundamental artistic need for experimentation. 

Trends shift and galleries demand change. So, sticking to a particular style can reduce your market agility. But by staying stylistically fluid, you can explore new techniques and mediums. You can reflect on the present, rather than perfecting the past.

Having your own style is useful—until it becomes your brand, a prison you can’t break out of for the rest of your life. The moment people can predict you perfectly, maybe it’s time to disrupt yourself.