Do You Have to Have a Big Ego to Become a Successful Artist?

Perhaps the title of this post seems like a bit of an odd question... but I think many of us have experienced the stereotype of a "somewhat famous" artist being "larger than life" and occasionally behaving a bit like a flamboyant prima donna.

"Petals I"

I experienced this more when I had my first gallery in Austin, Texas during the late 1980's and early 1990's, where a number of the people whose work we featured were — for lack of a better way of putting it — legends in their own minds.

Now, let is keep firmly in mind that these artists had created a considerable measure of success with their work, typically reaching a point where they were actually making a living purely from creative endeavors, with no "side gig at McDonalds" needed in their life.

I had that gallery for 13 years, and in the course of those years I got to know several artists quite well, personally, as well as in a business sense.

"Petals III"

In some cases, the appearance of the big ego was part of a public persona that wasn't the same as who they were if you were to meet them at a private BBQ or dinner. It was simply part of an overall "image package" that went with them and their creative work.

What bears remembering here is the fact that "nice people" can be found pretty much in all walks of life, as can be "nasty people."

What I was specifically looking at here was the correlation between success in artistic fields and a somewhat inflated ego. Part of what gave rise to my considering this question is the large number of very talented artists I have met who seemed to somewhat "get in their own way" by being too humble and self-effacing to self-promote.

So, it would seem that having a somewhat large ego — or at least a flamboyant persona — is more often helpful than a hindrance.

That said... the same could probably be said for many fields besides Art... it's often the case that great success is the product of tireless self-promotion and willingness to put yourself "in the middle of things" at all times.

Personally speaking, not something I was every very good at!

Thanks for stopping by, and do please leave a comment if you feel inspired to do so!

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