The other day, while doom scrolling, I ran into a meme: “Artists are treating this as a competition. Competition happens at the bottom. Collaboration happens at the top.” I’ve seen versions of this quote countless times. I know and like the artist who posted it, understand the context it’s coming from, and this piece isn’t meant as a personal jab. The quote made me pause, and I wanted to dig deeper into it to see if it was a meaningful explanation that reflects how the art w

As I head into 2026, I’ve been thinking about artistic goals and the idea of having a “word of the year.” The more I think about it, the more I realize I can’t seem to define a word or a clear set of goals, and I’m not convinced I want to.

Does your art matter? Explore why creativity is worth it despite monetization, validation, and rejection. Find the truth behind your passion