What makes a successful artist?

Abstract

ABSTRACT This study seeks to identify which factors of an artist’s background and demographic characteristics (age, race, gender, education, location as a child, and family SES) correlate with successful career outcomes (quality of gallery representation, representation in museum exhibitions and collections). Using a sample of 930 artists, created by random sampling from a catalog of represented artists merged with public data on demographic, SES, and educational backgrounds, we conducted a multivariate analysis on differences in artist outcome. Findings suggest a substantial female penalty in gallery representation and museum exhibitions. While an education premium exists, measured by attending top-tier BFA/MFA programs, it does not affect all artists similarly – female artists do not receive gains in the same way that male artists do, while artists from lower SES backgrounds are less likely to attend such programs. We also find that previous cohorts of artists are more established in the modern art world.