This month I was a contributing artist to Issue 41, ‘Ageism,’ in the arts. Of all the fields I have worked in (and there are many!), the arts is the only one that openly specifies age restrictions in open calls and opportunities aimed at adults. My own experience in meeting other artists is that I feel like I’m part of a community of all ages, and older artists have been immensely generous in sharing their knowledge.
My entry is ‘Self Portrait at the Age of 3*’
“I was inspired by Rembrandts ‘Self portrait at 34’. He was at the top of his career, and depicted himself in the dress of the old masters, looking out across the art pantheon showing himself to be their equal. In contrast this self portrait is of me, an female emerging artist over 35, starting to show small but subtle signs of getting older. I’m looking out into the art world with a mild sense of overwhelm, awkwardness and a worry that my career is subject to an arbitrary time limit - when it has barely begun.”
