The Problem with Celebrities as "Artists"

There's a reason why people excel in one field versus another, they devote themselves to their craft/skill set-it's not just therapeutic. This morning, while reading an article in The Guardian about comedic actor, Jim Carey and his "painting," I thought, "great, another one."

Art is my passion, I have devoted my entire adult life to studying and struggling to find my place in the art world. I have been fortunate to both show and sell my work in galleries as well as represent many artists, I consider myself to be a lover of both outsider art and fine art and everything in between, but when I see headlines about celebrity artists, it is almost as annoying as being shown a cell phone screen of someone's "art" when I'm trying to sell other people's work at my job.

I can remember a particularly irritating show in Key West back in 2004ish when Rosie O'Donnell was selling her "art" at a local gallery. The work could be described as messy at best and lacking both composition and heart-felt meaning; but, like most "celebrity art," it sold.

There seems to be a push for branding with today's art market like never before, every day, I hear people asking if work is attributed to this name or that name, they could care less about the art, they want the name. For what, I ask? the art market is so oversaturated with products of subpar quality by these names that in 50 years, it's doubtful that 1% of anything they produced will find a buyer at an exorbitant price the buyers believe they will fetch.

I saw an exhibit of Sir Anthony Hopkins' paintings in May and, while I found some of the pieces quite engaging, I can almost guarantee none of the work would be exhibited were it not for Hopkins' celebrity. And, this is the problem inherent in art, no name, no backing, nobody cares. Even though art has become more plebian, its appreciation an understanding has not; thus, creating the current state of the market where recognizing a name is commensurate with appreciating what makes a piece of art good.

https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2017/aug/10/jim-carrey-art-film-hollywood-actors-painting

https://www.rosie.com/gallery/art/

http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7717251-jeff-mitchum-galleries-hopkins-exhibit/