Can Accessibility Alone Qualify A person As An Artist?
Human history has witnessed countless artists and artworks from past to present. Today, creating a work of art is now very easy. However, reaching this point wasn’t easy, and artists of the past weren’t as fortunate as artist of today. Can artistic creation, which has become as easy and natural as drinking water, truly earn a memorable place in history?
Therefore: In the age of instant creativity, where apps can produce masterpieces and anyone can publish with a single tap, the question arises: Can anyone truly be an artist? As digital tools democratize creativity, the boundaries of art become blurred. But does accessibility alone qualify a person as an artist? Or is there something deeper that defines the act of making art?
This article will explore the philosophical, historical, and cultural nuances of what it means to be an artist. You will discover how digital freedom both strengthens and complicates the concept of artistry, and why this question is more relevant than ever in today’s creative landscape.
What Makes Someone an Artist?
To understand whether everyone can be an artist, we must first ask what an artist is. Is it someone with technical skill, academic training, or depth of vision? Or is it simply someone who creates?
Historically, artists were defined by dedication, originality, and often suffering. Many of the world’s most famous figures, such as Van Gogh, Modigliani, and Frida Kahlo, did not conform to social norms. Their lives were filled with rejection and loneliness, yet their works transcended time. What they all shared was an unwavering inner vision a need to express what words and systems could not.
In contrast, today’s tools eliminate many barriers. Anyone with a smartphone can edit, paint, compose, or collage. This democratization is having a powerful impact. But is purposeless creation still art? And if everyone creates, who truly becomes an artist?
The Dangers of Hyperaccessibility
Digital art and platforms like NFTs, generative AI, and mobile design apps have made creativity accessible to everyone. This is a breakthrough in self-expression, but it’s also a double-edged sword.
When creativity becomes effortless, the conceptual depth and emotional labor behind art can be underestimated. If artistry is defined by the number of likes a work receives, are we prioritizing virality over visuals? Some argue that this “content” overload risks undermining the emotional, philosophical, and transformative essence of what makes something art.
Yet, in this flooded landscape, those with original voices still stand out. Because art isn’t just about what’s being done, it’s about why. This “why” is what separates the artist from the imitator.
The Misunderstood Nature of Artist
Society has always struggled to understand artists. They challenge norms, live on the fringes, and perceive reality in ways others often fear. Historically, many artists have been marginalized, ignored, or misunderstood long after their deaths.
Van Gogh, whose works today sell for hundreds of millions of dollars, died poor and unappreciated. His emotional expression, raw colors, and symbolic worlds were deeply alien to his time. Had he accessed modern platforms, perhaps his work and spirit would have been recognized sooner.
Today, as digital tools level the playing field, society is gradually learning to recognize and value a wider variety of creative minds. However, this should not diminish our respect for what it means to be an artist. True artists don’t simply create what they experience. They are historians of emotion, architects of the imagination, and foundations of future thought.
Conclusion:
In a world where anyone can create, the act of creation retains its sacredness, but not everyone who creates is an artist. The artist’s path is one of vision, depth, and a commitment to something unseen.
Whether with a brush or a tablet, code or a canvas, true artistry is born not of convenience but of necessity.
As we celebrate the democratization of creativity, we must also preserve the depth of the artistic spirit.
Being an artist means living with open wounds, raw fascination, and relentless observation. An artist lives art in every detail and needs no proof. They simply create.
