Leaving Architecture to become a Successful Artist, ft. David Horgan
Summary
Stephen Drew speaks with David Horgan about leaving architecture to become a successful artist, self-taught painting, storytelling, social commentary, exhibitions, studio practice and turning a creative side path into a serious career.Leaving architecture for art can sound risky, but creative careers are rarely linear. The useful question is how someone turns a side path into a serious body of work.
Stephen Drew speaks with David Horgan about leaving architecture to become a successful artist, self-taught painting, storytelling, social commentary, exhibitions, studio practice and what it takes to build a creative career outside traditional practice.
The conversation covers:
- How architecture training can feed into a career as an artist
- Why storytelling and social commentary shape David's work
- What changes when a creative side path becomes a serious practice
- How exhibitions and residencies help build momentum
- What architecture professionals can learn from creative pivots
Read the episode on Architecture Social: Leaving Architecture to Become an Artist
Watch the video on YouTube: Leaving Architecture to become a Successful Artist
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Chapters
- 00:00 Introduction to leaving architecture for art
- 05:00 David Horgan's background and self-taught painting
- 10:00 Storytelling, humour and social commentary
- 15:00 Why architecture can lead to another creative career
- 20:00 Moving from a job into a studio practice
- 25:00 Exhibitions, residencies and building momentum
- 30:00 What artists and architecture professionals can learn from each other
- 35:00 The difference between a side hustle and a serious practice
- 40:00 Practical advice for people considering a creative pivot
- 45:00 Final reflections on leaving architecture
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Architecture Social
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