We were lucky to catch up with Joseph Borzotta recently and have shared our conversation below.
Joseph, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Earning a full time living from one’s creative career can be incredibly difficult. Have you been able to do so and if so, can you share some of the key parts of your journey and any important advice or lessons that might help creatives who haven’t been able to yet?
I graduated in Graphic Design from RISD, which was fulltime unless you free-lanced – which I did many times doing paste-up/mechanicals. I was very lucky and got a part-time graphics job w Arthur Andersen & Co (with benefits!). I left after 6 years and did freelance design, illustration, caricatures, bartending, and fine art painting. In 1990 I started an arts group in Hoboken which opened many doors over the years. In 97 I opened a bar/art gallery in Hoboken called Liquid Lounge.
Statistically it is almost impossible to earn a living as a fine artist, and after 2008, illustration took a huge hit. I always had alternate ways of keeping cash flowing. Eventually I bought real estate w my siblings and that became my steady income while I painted.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I have a very diverse background in art and business. Most of my career was a one-step-led-to-the-next-step kind of process. 80% of business is common sense, I wish art schools taught more practical business basics.
I have two bodies of paintings, one is more figurative and has people in odd situations, a touch of the surreal and whimsy. My other body is modern still-life – signs, old ice boxes, birds, pop culture items. I’ve run my own art galleries so I know both sides of the seller/buyer equation. My paintings are open-ended, allowing the viewer to put together their own interpretation. This makes the client even happier because they become conversation pieces with guests in their homes.
Marketing is important to get eyeballs on your work – social media, a website, mailers, and being creative. The “gallery only” way of doing business isn’t as important anymore, there are lots of alternative venues and ways to sell you work and build a following. I’ve always been pro “think outside of the box” and artists should apply their creativity to the business side as well.
Have you ever had to pivot?
I had a part-time job in the graphics division of a big 6 accounting/consulting firm in NY for 6+ years. The Mac came out my senior year in college so I never learned it, and that was a tricky adjustment. I didnt go into art to sit in front of a computer screen all day, so the writing was on the wall. During this I started an arts group which grew to over 250. I also built up a freelance illustration business, started doing fine art painting, and some graphics production work so when I left the company I had other sources of income. I bartended and got the idea to do what I was doing with the arts group, but in our own space w a liquor license to pay the bills. Three years after I left the job in NY, I opened my first bar.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
In 2007 a hereditary heart valve problem got worse and I had to get heart surgery. This changed my life in many ways. For one thing, you stop sweating the small stuff because after you were kept alive by a machine for 3 hours, it gives you a different perspective! It also made me aware of my new limitations and I had to adjust.
I made a loose bucket list, and am still checking things off. One of them was stand-up comedy, which I still do. Basically, the heart surgery taught me not to put things off, because, well, ya never know.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.JosephBorz0tta.com
- Instagram: @Borzotta_Arts
- Facebook: Borzotta Arts and Joseph Borzotta
- Youtube: Joey Borzotta Comedy and 5 Minute With The Gallery Guy
Image Credits
Photo of me: Courtney Puciata Borzotta