Support This Newsletter

This newsletter is fuelled by care, commitment and uplifting the careers of artists, alongside generous donations from some of you, which I am very grateful for. If you'd like to support this newsletter, you can donate as little as the price of a coffee via Ko-fi or PayPal.

What Solange Said…

A couple of months ago I came across the following thread:

Of course I screenshot that instantly, and since then, I have been sharing it with artists whilst in conversation about the multifaceted work that they do, especially those who have expressed that do not feel their practice is valid, or feel confused because they work across different mediums, and have trouble specialising in one…or who have been made to feel invalid by others because of that. That quote speaks directly to a pressure that artists can feel, from the expectation to narrow yourself, to pick one medium, or subject matter, or to become a singular, easily legible version of who they are in order to be taken seriously. As I’ve shared in earlier newsletters this year, not all artists will make a full time living form their studio practice alone. And to be honest, being “just one thing” is rarely the most sustainable option these days. This isn’t an attack on having a specialism. Depth and craft matter, however what I am referring to here is that embracing multifacetedness doesn’t mean a lack of clarity as some claim it to. You can move across many forms while remaining rooted in the same source. Diversifying your practice can support you financially, yes. However, its deeper impact goes far beyond income. When you’re fluid in how you move, you can operate across institutions, grassroots spaces, commercial and DIY environments, large teams, small teams, or solo. You learn how to translate ideas across systems, languages, and worlds — and that is a superpower.

Solange Knowles’ own work is a perfect example. She is not only widely recognised and respected as an extraordinary singer and songwriter – that is only one manifestation of her creativity. She is also a composer, designer, creative director, performance-maker, curator, and cultural organiser. Through her studio albums, her performance works like the spectacular one she did at Guggenheim, her film work, curation, and the world-building of Saint Heron, she has built a practice that moves fluidly across forms while remaining coherent and visibly and intrinsically authentic. More recently, her library initiative through Saint Heron shows her commitment to access, preservation, and community knowledge. What stands out is her integrity — not because she excels in one discipline alone, but because she brings intention and care to all of them and you know it comes from the same source. I recommend reading this brilliant write up by Nereya Otieno for Hyperallergic titled “What The Art World Can Learn From Solange”

I’ve seen this similar coherence up close in artists I’ve worked with. From Hetain Patel whose works, inspired by his grandmother, and his deep love for superheroes and movement moves across sculpture, performance, textiles, drawing, installation, and film, and is currently developing his first feature film. His work is set in museum spaces, theatre spaces, outdoors, in art fair settings and community-based settings. Larry Achiampong works across film, music, video games, photography, and installation; his monograph, If It Don’t Exist, Build It, is a beautiful presentation of the depth of his work. Heather Agyepong is one of the UK’s rising contemporary art photographers, as well as an even bigger rising start in the world of theatre as an actress, and across both disciplines, her work remains deeply rooted in research, embodiment, and narrative. In all these cases, moving between forms strengthens, rather than fragments, the practice.

There’s a phrase often used dismissively:

“A jack of all trades is a master of none”

But the full quote is actually:

“A jack of all trades is a master of none, but oftentimes better than a master of one”

So let this be your reminder: you do not need to shrink yourself to be taken seriously. You do not need to apologise for multiple skills, interests, or versions you authentically present. Embrace your different versions. Let them inform one another. Let them grow from the same source. Let them support your sustainability, your impact, and your art.

You were never meant to be one thing.

If you’ve made it to this part—thank you for reading! I hope there’s something in here that resonates or encourages you to keep going.

And if you know someone who might benefit from these newsletters or sessions, feel free to forward this on and encourage them to subscribe.

This is the last newsletter of 2025. Wishing you all a wonderful festive season. See you in 2026.