Several weeks ago, I shared my thoughts on why keeping politics out of your art business can be a sound strategy. While I still believe this approach helps maintain focus and professionalism, it’s hard to ignore the recent 2024 election results and the ripple effects they might have on our world—and more specifically, on the art market.
The conversations I’ve had since the election reveal a full spectrum of emotions. Some artists I know feel a renewed sense of hope, while others express deep concerns about what’s coming next. As I’ve reflected on the landscape before us, I want to offer a perspective rooted in my experiences across three decades in the art business.
Since the early ‘90s, I’ve seen the art world navigate through massive shifts—the dot-com bubble, 9/11, the Middle East conflicts, the Great Recession, major elections, a global pandemic, social unrest…the list goes on. Each of these events felt monumental, and each time, we wondered what effect they would have on the world of art. And, as always, the world kept turning, and art continued to matter deeply to people. In fact, it often mattered more.
Through it all, art has served as a constant—a way for people to find peace, beauty, and perspective. Collectors continued to acquire pieces, and artists kept creating. The experiences of the last few decades have taught me that, if anything, challenging times underscore the value of art in people’s lives. Art connects us, brings calm amidst chaos, and allows people to bring a slice of beauty into their homes.
That said, I won’t deny that times like these can make the art market more challenging. There are years when sales flow easily, and others when we feel a bit more friction. Yet, sometimes events we expect to have major impacts on our business don’t end up affecting us nearly as much as anticipated. Case in point: this year has been strong for us at Xanadu Gallery. Just a day after the election, we saw one of our biggest days of the year. Collectors were still coming in, still passionate about bringing art into their lives.
So, how do we approach times like these, as gallery owners and artists alike? What should we do when the world around us is unpredictable or when events unfold in ways we might not have wished? My advice is simple: keep creating, keep sharing, and keep building relationships. Focus on what matters to you and your work.
And remember the classic British slogan: Keep calm and carry on. Anxiety and panic don’t serve us well in times of change. Instead, our strength as professionals in the art world lies in our resilience. As we cope with challenges and adapt to them, we lay the foundation for long-term success—not just in business, but in our lives.
Certainly, it can be difficult not to get caught up in emotions, especially when we face so much uncertainty. The art world is no stranger to both joy and fear. But each time we push forward and continue to do the work we love, we strengthen our resolve and become even more resilient. And really, what is the alternative?
For me, the answer is to keep showing up. Today, as I head into my day at the gallery, I look forward to the conversations I’ll have, the collectors I’ll meet, and the art I’ll share with them. For those of us in this business, this is the core of what we do—offering people beauty, inspiration, and maybe a little bit of peace in a world that doesn’t always feel peaceful.
If you’re an artist, gallery owner, or art lover, I’d love to hear your thoughts: how do you stay grounded during unpredictable times? Do you feel your art practice or business shifts in response to current events, or do you find solace in consistency? Let’s continue the conversation in the comments, and if you’re not already subscribed, join the blog to stay connected.
Thank you for this, Jason; I appreciate your calm voice of reason in the midst of chaos.
Boy I have tried to keep politics away from my art, but that’s been near impossible because I was soo passionate about having a woman as President. Now I can see that as this shifted and I fight for our democracy among other thing like environment, climate change and women’s rights its really going to impact my art…there’s no way it can not…it’s who I am. I feel at this point if any one wants to stop following me, not buy my art, etc I am absolutely fine with that. I’ll take the hit because “well-behaved women seldom make history” is my slogan going forward!!!
Instead of collapsing, and the election did not go as I had hoped, I will continue to make the best art I can and use the best materials and keep on showing up every single day. No time to mope. If I get depressed, I’ll do what I did early this morning: Go outside in the freezing cold and let the stars shine into my heart and soul.
Love your article. Wise words indeed. You named all my feelings about the level of media attention and generally so much reaction to the results. I have made time today to concentrate on what I need to do next. Check I am totally prepared for my shows and plan administration tasks I needed to address. However my favorite task was preparation for my next submission, which was very grounding. It was relatively relaxing to settle into my normal routine. Art is so many things ! My general feeling is life goes on for sure and ‘everything settles down in the end’ (words from a dear friend no longer with us). So just keep DOING and Embrace the day ! Plan your next project! Switch off, settle down, and know everything will be ok.
Jason, I agree that the issues in politics and the world are unpredictable with reference to art. When we went into lockdown for Covid, my first reaction was uh oh now what?. However, with all those people at home with little to do except get on their computers and look around, I had one of my biggest years ever in 2020. It seemed like every time I sat down at my computer, I had another sale. 2021 was almost as good. I guess the position we have to take is to look for where the sales might come from in the present environment. I hadn’t realized that folks looking around and spending time in their offices and homes would produce lines like, “my office/wall is so boring, I need something to wake it up”, or “this place looks like hell…I need a change”. Those are the words I loved hearing along with the standard, “I have a lot of big white empty walls”…..and for those who have a lot of windows, I often suggest that they drywall over them so they can hang some art……kidding.😁
For my collectors I sell to the most……when the stock market goes up, when oil jobs increase, when interest rates go down, I do better and I think it’s going to be that way now. That is my personal opinion, and I am not open to discussing politics here so please don’t start.
I find it obscene that you have artists who have a “renewed sense of hope” over the election results when young women are dying because they can’t get proper health care, immigrants are hiding, gay people are being attacked, all women are being denigrated and demeaned, minorities are scapegoated, the injured and handicapped are ridiculed. This is the history of humanity: the ignorant and foolish follow demagogues that cause immense suffering and hold back progress in order to enrich themselves at our expense. It’s appalling that anyone would feel “hopeful” under these tragic circumstances. I guess as long as it’s not happening to you it doesn’t matter how others suffer.
Thank you Jason, for giving us your insights and thoughts at this time.
I was on another artist zoom group today. the consensus was, artists have to keep working. Many people look to art as a stability and the higher level of humanity.
My personal motto is “eyes on the horizon.” The optimist recognizies the long form.
But this feels different (48 hours in.) for many reasons including local ones.
I will tell you that my usual color sense has been skewed. I have tried to make an image I’ve been working on to “work”. And it’s not.
Everything is perception and our psyches are fragile. And yet, I know work is what I have to do.
I don’t as yet have a large following which means I do not have a luxury of hunkering down while the dust settles.
The real answer to these times, I think, is Make more art, more beautiful, more prophetic, more determined, more insistent. It’s what the artists after the Great War 1919 were compelled to do. And they were war-damaged too but look what happened. It’s our turn at whatever level we are at.