Personalized insight
An Honest Conversation About the 2026 Art Market
I recently sat down with Dr. Steven Sparling for a candid conversation about the realities
artists are navigating right now.
We talked about the parts of the art world that rarely get explained clearly — the invisible
rules, the emotional toll of decision fatigue, and why so many capable artists end up blaming
themselves when the real issue is structural change.
This conversation covers:
- How the art market has shifted
- Why talent alone isn’t enough — and never really was
- What artists need now to build sustainable, meaningful careers
- Why I created The Working Artist Academy
This isn’t a sales pitch. It’s context, clarity, and lived experience — offered in the spirit of
support.
If you’d like to go deeper:
👉 Learn more about The Working Artist Academy
👉 Book a conversation with Crista
Written by Crista Cloutier, artist mentor + founder of The Working Artist. (learn more about Crista here)





