Art is everywhere in our lives. From a painting you see in the hall, to the phone you hold in your hand. Who do you think designed the device you’re looking at this with? Who designs the cars you drive to school, the album cover for your favorite band, and the headphones you listen to music with. Almost everything in your life has been designed by an artist. All the TV shows you watch are made by an animator; the sets are designed and created by artists. It’s almost impossible to imagine all the things that artists do in our daily lives, but yet they are still cast aside and discredited for all their hard work.

Without art, the world would be nothing short of bare. Katie Kaplan is a multidisciplinary artist born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She has shown work in solo and group exhibitions at galleries, museums, community spaces, and print shops across the United States.   For over 10 years, she has worked as a professional teaching artist and community artist, work that is critical and intrinsic to her art practice as a whole. Kuplian said, “A world without art is like a blank piece of paper. Thousands of people travel around the world just to see one painting. Some people live to make art. When you think about it, life is like an art project. Art brings life into the cities, countries, and states. Without art, it is like not having rain for plants. Art brings color to dull places like rain makes plants colorful. Taking away art is like taking away a kid’s phone, but ten times worse.” 

I asked Mrs. Morris, one of the art teachers at our High School, why she thinks people undervalue artists, and her response was, “Because they think that all artists sit in their basements and make art and hope for someone to buy it; when in reality, artists are people who design buildings, people who design all the ads you fall for, produce everything in your everyday life.” I completely agree with her.

There is no reason that a career in the arts should be undervalued, yet people still make them for granted. When asked about if she felt her career was stable, Mrs. Elliard, another art teacher at our school, said, “A creative degree gives you freedom to think about how you apply it, teaches you all the skills needed and you can use them however you want.” There are so many things you are able to do with an art degree; there are no limitations and there is so much opportunity to do whatever you put your mind to. 

In conclusion, most people make assumptions about artists being holed up in their basements painting all day, making no money and wasting time. When in reality, artists design and create almost everything you use in your daily life. There are countless career opportunities that give good pay and livable wages. Artists are the backbone of our society, yet people doubt them all the same.