Talent? Yes.
 Luck? Absolutely.
 Timing? More than we’d like to admit.

But after spending time with artists like Aline Setton, Luca Soldovieri, Melanie Authier, Vickie Vainionpää—alongside galleries like Olga Korper Gallery and institutions such as the Aga Khan Museum—I’ve started to notice something else.

A pattern.

Not a formula. Not a guarantee.
 But a set of behaviours that show up again and again.

The artists who make it work financially tend to:

•  Treat their practice like a long-term game 
•  Build real networks (not just visibility) 
•  Communicate and tell compelling stories 
•  Develop a recognizable signature 
•  Embrace the business side of art (without apology) 
•  And yes… make themselves visible 

In short: they behave like professionals—not just creators.

It sounds obvious. It isn’t.

Because the romantic narrative of the “pure artist” still lingers…
 And it quietly sabotages a lot of talent.

I talked about what I’m seeing—from the outside looking in—
 for anyone navigating the intersection of art, market, and ambition.

Curious to hear:
 What do you think actually drives success in today’s art market?

#Art #ContemporaryArt #ArtMarket #Artists #Creativity #Professionalism #Collecting #Newsletter

Peggy Van de Plassche is a value creation strategist and senior advisor with over 20 years of experience in private equity, financial services, healthcare, and technology. She works with investment firms, boards, and C-suite leaders to accelerate portfolio company performance, drive operational transformation, and unlock long-term value. Peggy specializes in the execution of complex value creation plans—spanning capital allocation, digital enablement, transaction advisory, and leadership alignment. Her work consistently bridges strategy and implementation, helping investors and operators maximize EBITDA and enterprise value. A founding board member of Invest in Canada, she also brings deep expertise in public-private partnerships and institutional capital deployment—critical levers for competitive advantage in today’s global landscape. Her clients have included BMO, CI Financial, HOOPP, OMERS, GreenShield Canada, Nicola Wealth, and Power Financial. Learn more at peggyvandeplassche.com.

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