Books by Brainard Carey

Don't miss your chance to get these helpful books at a steep discount, signed and shipped to your door

Brainard Carey's books SIGNED by the author and shipped to anywhere in the US:

1) Making it in the Art World: 240 pages

2) The Problems in the Art World: 156 pages


Review from Museum Director / MFA Chair at SVA, David Ross

“In a remarkably useful guidebook for artists trying to find their way, the artist Brainard Carey has spelled out in a clear and concise manner a series of strategies and techniques that, taken as a whole, are the equivalent of that elusive course in real-world preparedness that most art schools gloss over or simply ignore. In addition to his thoughtful and thorough approach to the subject, Carey’s candor and complete lack of cynicism and posturing makes this book a must-read for any emerging artist.” —David A Ross, chair of MFA in Art Practice, School of Visual Arts, and former director of the Whitney Museum of American Art

How today’s artists survive, exhibit, and earn money—without selling out!

Career-minded artists, this is the book you have been waiting for! Making It in the Art World, Second Edition, explains how to be a professional artist and shares new methods to define and realize what success means. Whether you’re a beginner, a student, or a career artist looking to be in the best museum shows, this book provides ways of advancing your plans on any level. Author Brainard Carey, an artist himself with prestigious exhibitions like the Whitney Biennial under his belt, draws on more than twenty years of experience in the art world and from over 1,600 interviews with artists and curators for Yale University Radio.

Included is a thirteen-part workbook to help you formulate and execute a winning career advancement strategy, a process that will prepare you for navigating the art world successfully. Friendly chapters walk you through it all with topics such as:

  • Evaluating your work
  • Submitting proposals to museums and galleries
  • Creating pop-up shows
  • Presenting work to the public
  • Doing it your way (DIY exhibits)
  • Organizing events
  • Writing press releases
  • Finding collectors online and connecting
  • Using social media effectively
  • Selling online
  • Raising funds for projects
  • Getting international recognition

Making It in the Art World, Second Edition, is an invaluable resource for artists at every stage, offering readers a plethora of strategies and helpful tips to plan and execute a successful artistic career.

  • Paperback: 211 pages
  • Publisher: Allworth Press (April 19, 2022)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1621534847
  • ISBN-13: 978-1621534846
  • Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.9 x 8.9 inche



In this succinct volume, author Brainard Carey, an artist with prestigious exhibitions like the Whitney Biennial under his belt, distills two decades of personal experience and over 1,900 interviews with artists and curators for Yale University Radio exploring the question of how to achieve, manage, and maintain art careers.

In The Problems in the Art World: An Artist’s A-Z Action Guide, Carey directly addresses the following key challenges every artist grapples with at some point:
A. The problem of commitment
B. The problem of getting recognition
C. The problem of a community
D. The problem with grants
E. The problem with money
F. The opportunities problem
G. The scam problem
H. The social media problem
And much more! With a shareable illustrated format for easily taking action, The Problems in the Art World is an A-Z guide on the best paths to take and the best choices to make to survive and thrive in the unpredictable art world.

Your Instructor


Brainard Carey
Brainard Carey

Brainard Carey is an author, artist and educator. He is the director of Praxis Center for Aesthetics and is currently faculty at the School of Visual Arts in NYC. He has written seven books for artists, including Making it in the Art World. His seventh book released in 2024 is The Problems in the Art World: An Artist's A-Z Action Guide. Carey interviews curators, writers and artists from all over the art world for Yale University radio. He also has a resource page for grants that is always updated. He is an educator and also an artist that has had major shows like The Whitney Museum Biennial.