A Life Devoted to Art: A Global Journey
Is the artist’s life worth the sacrifice?
Artist’s life worth it: That’s the core question Stephanie Elizondo Griest poses in Art Above Everything, her global quest to explore the joys and struggles of living creatively. Spanning over a decade of travel and interviews, her work dives deep into what it truly means to live for art—and what it costs.
From Rwanda to New Zealand, Mexico to Qatar, Griest interviewed 70 artists, including ballerina Wendy Whelan, author Sandra Cisneros, and playwright Hope Azeda, to explore how far one should go for creative expression.
“Art Monk” and the Vow of Creativity
Inspired by time spent in a Catholic house of prayer, Griest compares the artist’s life to religious asceticism. She coined the term “art monk,” likening her personal sacrifices—delayed fertility, no job security, no home of her own—to monastic vows.
She writes, “If I were going to continue down this ascetic path, I needed to find other chanters in the dark.”
The Women Behind the Canvas
Griest intentionally focused on female artists, calling attention to their ongoing underrepresentation in art institutions. “Women weren’t even in visual art textbooks until the 1970s,” she notes. And as DEI programs face political threats, she warns of deepening gender disparities.
The Cost of Creation
Despite awards and bylines in The New York Times and The Washington Post, Griest often found herself without health insurance, job security, or even cutlery.
But in crisis—during cancer treatment and the pandemic—it was art that saved her. “Note-taking grounded me through chemo,” she says. “Art became my primary self-soothing technique.”
The Bigger Picture: Art as Resistance
As the political climate grows hostile to the arts, Griest and others argue that art is more important than ever.
“Many organizations fear even showing controversial work,” artist Sheryl Oring told NBC. “That makes our work more urgent.”
Even actor Orlando Rios noted, “You just have to stick with it… It’s not a linear path.”
“All We Have Is This Moment”
Now on a national book tour, Griest stands by her decision.
“All I’d ever wanted to do was travel the world and write about it, and I’d done that. I had zero regrets.”
In her 50s, Griest affirms that the artist’s life—while unstable—is deeply fulfilling.
“If art is the place you feel most fulfilled, then that is how you must live. Make it glorious.”
Source: NBC News
