Do Artists Really Work?

The position of the artist as worker is ambiguous and raises questions. This arises from people’s beliefs and myths about art, concerning its uselessness, romanticism and idealism; from an understanding of the concept of work rooted in a capitalist perspective, according to which art functions as something “different” than and “external” to work; and from misunderstandings about what comprises the essence of an artist’s professional activity. Critics and art theorists speak about artists’ work, while artists themselves speak through their work (Oskar Dawicki, Michał Frydrych and Julia Curyło). In the conclusion, the concept of creative work is discussed by people not connected professionally with the art market, but who are its potential customers.