If You Choose to Pay for a Degree in the Arts, You Are a Willful and Active Participant in Your Own Robbery

Art degrees are objectively the most worthless degrees money can buy. Art comes from the soul and manifests in many ways—fashion, music, writing, film, and beyond. Real art cannot be commodified. Have you ever wondered why so much art today feels soulless? Because people have watered down true passion, mass-producing it for mindless audiences.

As a visual artist, I will primarily speak in terms of this industry, but my words apply across the board. The people who dominate the art space are typically pretentious, self-important conformists who all think the same. Many have a superiority complex and believe they see the world differently. But if that were true, why do so many artists produce work containing the same recycled imagery? Why do the gatekeepers only spotlight work that could pass for something you’ve already seen?

I’m sorry, but to Black artists—at what point do we get tired of seeing the same “urban” and “street” representation? While these stories may be true for some and deserve to be heard, how does it not bore you to explore something else? Does it not interest you to look deeper—to analyze yourself as a human being first and recognize that you are more than your environmental circumstances? Are you not interested in shifting the narrative, shedding light on the stories that don’t go mainstream—the ones that defy the image of who “they” think we are? You know Black people experience a range of emotions and live many different lives. Why do we focus on only a select few?

And to Black female artists in particular—at what point do we get tired of seeing naked women as the subject of “femininity”? How can you not see that nudity is not an expression of female pride? That we are equally as beautiful with our clothes on, and that real femininity goes deeper than the surface? Why must we expose the most sacred parts of ourselves? Is “being” not enough?

And yes, you can blame the system—we all participate in it to a certain extent. But we still have choices, and choosing to create art that is borderline predictable is a personal choice.

To all artists in general, I understand everyone has their own niche, and to each their own. But where is the creativity? The same images are constantly produced, pushed, and repackaged for audiences to consume. I know I’m not the only one bored with this.

As artists, aren’t we supposed to have minds of our own? Aren’t we supposed to be the ones who challenge the status quo, visualize the things people wouldn't dare to say, and start new conversations? Can’t you see that by regurgitating the ideas of others—creating work you think will generate a quick audience, quick cash, or quick fame—you’re feeding into a system that only wants to market a particular image at your expense?

I wish you could see that your mind is not truly your own—you’re being controlled, and you’re complicit in your silence.

That’s why I’m against paying for formal art training.

We live in the digital era. Any technique you wish to learn, any painting you wish to study—you can look it up for free. That art degree will not get you in the door. The art industry is inauthentic, exclusionary, and exploitative. If you ever want a seat at the table, you have to invest in yourself first.

I’m doing this by majoring in business—supply chain, to be exact. An industry as wide and deep as the ocean—one that extends her arms of opportunity, ready to embrace anyone seeking stability, purpose, and leadership. Business is the fuel that drives and sustains every man-made link and node. It is the lifeline of our world—without its influence coursing through society’s veins, everything would collapse. Business is a universal language, and I intend to be fluent in it.

You should chase your dreams. You should follow your heart. You should live for your passions. But there are ways to do this without selling yourself short. The greatest artists we know all carved their own paths—many of them weren’t popular at first.

My biggest inspiration—and the most dazzling artist of all—was Jesus Christ. A profound orator, yet He doesn’t get much credit for His incredible storytelling. His parables were filled with captivating symbolism, clever metaphors, and similes that could run for miles. Great art stands the test of time, and His words have yet to be forgotten.

Jesus was also a carpenter—a logical, valuable, and relevant trade. Do you catch my drift now? He was passionate about saving the world, but He also understood He needed a practical trade to make ends meet. And remember when I mentioned the art industry was full of pretentious, self-important conformists who all think the same? Well, that’s exactly who the Pharisees were. Honestly, they operated out of both self-importance and self-righteousness. They were the ultimate gatekeepers of the synagogue and Jesus’s biggest opposers, yet He still found a way to reach the people. If the most perfect being to ever walk this earth didn’t seek formal training from the Scribes to become who He is, what more do you need to understand?

Another example—everyone’s favorite artist, Jean-Michel Basquiat. The one with a line of copycats behind him. He never got formal training. He was counted out many times. But today, he is known around the world for his talent and unique voice.

Why do you need to pay someone to teach you what’s already in you?

Talent cannot be taught. Experience is the best professor you’ll ever have. Confidence and resilience are the only guidebooks you need. And God should be your greatest inspiration.

The Bible is one of the most poetic pieces of literature to exist. The Creator’s works, which we see every day, are proof of His divine creativity. The leaves that dangle from the trees and blow in the wind. The plants that sprout and the flowers that bloom. The birds that soar. The fish that populate the sea. The beasts that roam the earth. All are testaments to His divinity. 

And we, too, are evidence of the same thing. We were all created in His image.

Yet, we allow a social construct called race to divide us. Race was created to separate and control. We are conditioned to fear and hate the “other.” But in reality, the only race that exists is the human race. The diversity in our appearance is one of the most beautiful aspects of life itself.

If you can’t look around and find inspiration in what already exists naturally, why even give yourself the responsibility of being an artist anyways?

If you want a seat at the table, you must build your own.

If you want a silver spoon to feed you, you must create your own silverware and prepare your own food.

If you have money to throw away, by all means—go for it.

But if you’re like the rest of us, it’s time to start thinking bigger.