All artists are entrepreneurs. All entrepreneurs are artists.

November 9, 2023

As mentioned in my last post, last week, I attended the Startup Nights in Winterthur, Switzerland. When networking at such events, the first question that pops up is, "What do you do?" / "What is your startup about?" (Sometimes you get to know what the person does professionally or is passionate about without knowing their name). When answering I am a photographer/artist, there was some confusion in the expression of the person asking, which made me reflect on how there seems to be a disconnection between the thought of being an artist and being an entrepreneur - as if one excludes the other, as if they would be two distinct worlds to navigate through.

But where, in reality, one equals the other.

All artists are entrepreneurs, and all entrepreneurs are artists. It is an art to create a business and a business to create art.

An artist's added difficulty in undertaking their business is that the person itself is the business and the product. The marketing evolves around promoting the individual and the outcome that derives from their view of the world (music, a painting, a photograph, a moving motion, etc.).

An artist can learn from the lessons a more business-oriented entrepreneur goes through, as can the business side of company creation learn from an artist's journey.

Strong branding and marketing initiatives are crucial for both. How do you want others to perceive you, your brand, your business, your product? As an individual, you are the fundamental piece of your creation, be it a painting, IT software, an album, consumer goods, a performance or a B2B solution. Your bi-product will be a reflection of your personality, your values and how you see the world.

As a company founder, your image, too, matters. You end up being the face of the business.

People like people. People buy from people.

As we all know by now, storytelling and emotions play a crucial role in attracting potential investors, grant-givers, and sponsors, as well as engaging the target group to consume your art and/or invention.

If both worlds are so similar, art and business, how come it still feels like there is a gap between both realities? Do you also perceive the gap?

"Both artists and entrepreneurs share the courage to embrace the unknown, the resilience to weather storms, and the vision to manifest something from nothing. The canvas may differ—whether it be a blank page, a stage, a studio, or a boardroom—but the underlying principles of creation remain constant."

PS: the same applies to athletes.