Whom or What Is an Artist?

As an ordinary viewer or collector, this question may arise. But as artists, we may ask ourselves this very question. Merriam-Webster defines the term “artist” as “a person who creates art (such as painting, sculpture, music or writing) using conscious skill and creative imagination. This may give a concrete meaning, but is someone an artist if they create once in a while? What about in the case of the growing presence of artificial intelligence or AI art? IS someone an artist if they utilize programs such as Midjourney to generate art?

When we think of the term "artist," many of us imagine a solitary figure, laboring away in a studio or workshop, creating works of beauty and meaning through the power of their imagination and skill. But what exactly does it mean to be an artist, and who or what can be considered one?

At its most basic level, an artist is simply someone who creates art. But this definition is too broad to be of much use in understanding what it means to be an artist. After all, what exactly is art? Is it a painting, a sculpture, a photograph, a piece of music, a performance? And what distinguishes art from other forms of human creativity?

One way to think of an artist is as a kind of translator, someone who takes the raw materials of their medium and transforms them into something that speaks to the human experience. Whether it's a painting that captures the beauty of a sunset, a song that expresses the pain of a broken heart, or a play that explores the complexities of the human psyche, artists have the ability to translate the world around us into something that resonates on a deep and personal level.

But this definition still leaves us with a lot of unanswered questions. What about the amateur painter who creates beautiful landscapes in their spare time? Or the musician who plays in a garage band but never gets famous? Are they artists, too? And what about the designers, architects, and engineers who create functional objects that are both beautiful and useful?

Perhaps the most intriguing thing about the term "artist" is its ambiguity. It can refer to someone who creates works of beauty and meaning, or it can be applied more broadly to anyone who uses their creativity and imagination to bring something new and valuable into the world. In this sense, an artist can be anyone who has the courage and vision to create something that has never existed before.

So, what or whom is an artist? The answer may be more complicated than we initially thought. But one thing is certain: whether you're a painter, a musician, a designer, or just someone who loves to create, the world needs more artists. So keep creating, keep experimenting, and keep exploring the boundaries of what it means to be an artist. The possibilities are endless.