We throw around these terms all the time in the art world:  Emerging, Mid-Career, Established Artist.  While they may seem easy enough to comprehend, most people tend to use them wrong.  I was sent an incredibly concise article on the definitions of these artist labels.  This is obviously important for artists to know, but collectors should be aware of these labels as well.

(If you’re an artist, tell me, do you fall into the category you thought?)

Here’s a snippet:

“Nobody likes to be labeled, right? Especially not artists who tend to be contrary, rebellious types. However, artist “categories” are bandied about by artists, gallerists, jurors, and critics and most of the people using these terms seem to be clueless, when questioned about what they actually mean.

Applications for exhibitions include titles like “Emerging Artist Exhibition,” while some contemporary gallery websites report that they only exhibit “mid-career” and “established” artists. What exactly do these categories mean and how do you place yourself within them, when necessary?”

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