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So... Why Art?

Posted by: Benjamin Onuorah

If I acquire a naira for every time people especially male suitors asked me, "Why art?", I’d probably be sitting on a small fortune by now!

They look at my life, see how deeply it revolves around creativity, and watch me earn degrees in it, only to hit me with the question: "How do you even survive? Is this lucrative, or are you just playing with paint?"

Lorokan sha, what they are really asking is: What do you actually bring to the table?
Sometimes, I take the time to break it down for them. Other times, I just smile and leave them in their ignorance. But let me set the record straight once and for all for those who see visual art as a "lesser" path, parents who discourage their creative children, and anyone doubting whether an art degree is worth it.

Studying art in a higher institution is literally a double-edged breakthrough. First, you get the deep theoretical knowledge, the kind that qualifies you for high paying corporate and white collar jobs. Second, you master the practical execution, the real 'ise owo' (handwork) that people spend years after graduation paying extra money to learn.

Think about that combination for a second!
I have a friend who studied art with me who is currently thriving in the banking sector, yet he STILL collects heavy art commissions on the side. That is the magic of this field. An artist who is diligent in their craft will never go hungry. The scriptures didn’t stutter when they said, "Seest thou a man diligent in his work? He shall stand before kings, and not mean men."

Art is far bigger than a canvas hanging on a living room wall. It is dynamic, biblical, special, and most important, it is deeply divine.

Look around you: every piece of media, tech, architecture, and design you touch was touched by an artist first. As a trained artist, your career path isn't a dead end, it is an ocean of possibilities.

You could be the Studio Artist, Painter, or Sculptor whose original works hang in prestigious galleries and private collections, or the Muralist breathing life into city architecture.

You could be the Concept Artist, Character Designer, or Illustrator building the visual worlds behind your favorite blockbuster films, video games, and animations.
You could dominate the corporate space as a Graphic & Brand Designer, Textile Designer, or step into high-level leadership as a Creative Director steering visual strategy for multinational brands.

You could shape environments as a Set and Production Designer for film and theater, or master the high-end market as an Art Curator, Gallerist, Conservator, or Dealer moving million-dollar collections.

You could even transform lives as an Art Educator, Art Critic, or Art Therapist, using creative processes to heal mental health and educate the next generation.
So, to anyone sitting on the fence, wondering if finding yourself on this path was a mistake: it wasn't.

You are not bound to one box. You hold both the mind of an intellectual and the hands of a creator. Find the path within this vast world that fits your passion, hold your head high, and walk in it with pride.

Art is power. Art is wealth. Never let anyone tell you otherwise!

By: Oloruntobi Esther
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