Are you a "Reemerging Artist"?
Share your experiences
A few months ago. one of my Substack subscribers Meghan wrote to me saying she subscribed because she was a “reemerging” artist looking to get back in the swing of things.
I love that she put a word to something I’m sure is much more common than I think. I was so taken with the phrase I decided to write an article for Hyperallergic about it.
So what is a “reemerging” artist? (And should I stop putting quotation marks around it? Yes.) A reemerging artist is an artist who had an early career—she was in the mix, meeting people, showing her work, selling here and there, but then took time away from making work to focus on something else: maybe the artist had a baby, got sick, or had to take care of a family member.
But now, she’s ready to rejoin the workforce, to get back to the studio (if she ever really left it fully) and get back on track. But it’s not so easy. Momentum is harder to pick up when you’ve taken a step back.
Anyone can reemerge as an artist, but I think it’s especially hard for a woman artist, as she will not only have to contend with ageism, but also with the sexism present in her early career. And if she’s got a kid by her side? Forget it!
And what about the feeling that your peers have moved on without you, that you’re still playing by the old rules of an evolving game?
These are all subjects I’d love to cover in the article— and I’d love your participation!
Are you, or have you been, a reemerging artist? Please comment below, or else shoot me an email at hall@lessthanhalf.org. Tell me why you took a break, for how long, and the difficulties (or advantages!) of getting back into the swing of things.
If you feel like you’ve done it with success, I’d love for you to offer advice, and for those still in it— what resources do you wish you had?
I don't even know what I would be considered. I've been making and showing art for 20+ years but still work FT, have kids, haven't "made it" - into major institutions or lots of sales.
I consider myself re-emerging. Finished my degree, showed and sold some then ended up taking care of my mother in hospice then allowing the need for insurance convince me I needed a “steady job”. After 11 years in healthcare, I’m back at it but feel left behind. Lagging in too many ways to count but add in a move to another state and it feels like I’m eternally behind.