This weekend my YouTube playlist suggested a Big Think video featuring network scientist Albert-László Barabási and art market consultant Magnus Resch. The premise stopped me mid-scroll: they claim you can predict an artist’s future “success” based on the first 5–10 exhibitions they were in—without even looking at the artwork.
Naturally, I was curious (and a little skeptical).
Because if you’ve spent any time in the art world, you already know talent is real… and also not the whole story. Two equally skilled artists can take wildly different paths—one gaining momentum, opportunities, and recognition, while the other feels like they’re pushing a boulder uphill.
What Barabási’s research suggests is both confronting and empowering:
Your art career isn’t built only on what you make. It’s built on the networks your work becomes part of.
And for studio artists who want more consistent visibility (and income), this is good news—because networks can be built intentionally.
Sources article link; youtube video; research paper; Book: How to become a successful artist
First, define what “success” means (because it’s not one thing)
Before we go further, it helps to name the version of success you care about. In the Big Think piece, “success” is discussed through traditional signals like recognition and access to prestigious institutions. (Big Think)
But most working studio artists want a blend, such as:
- Consistent sales (without panic-launching every month)
- Better opportunities (shows, residencies, galleries, art fairs, commissions)
- A stronger collector base
- More aligned visibility (being seen by the right people)
- Long-term career momentum (not constant reinvention)
You don’t have to want blue-chip representation for this post to matter. Network effects influence all of the above.
What the research actually found (in plain language)
In the 2018 Science paper (“Quantifying reputation and success in art”), Barabási and collaborators analyzed exhibition histories for hundreds of thousands of artists across decades and built models to understand how reputation and institutional networks influence careers. (barabasi.com)
A few key takeaways studio artists should know:
1) Early exhibition “prestige” strongly predicts later outcomes
The paper reports that an artist’s initial reputation—in practice, the prestige of their early exhibition venues—was predictive of future outcomes across multiple measures. (Science)
This doesn’t mean your fate is sealed if you didn’t start in a powerhouse museum. It means where your work is placed early becomes a signal, and signals shape access.
2) Networks create a “momentum” effect
The research frames careers as movement through a network of institutions (galleries, museums, etc.). The pattern they describe is consistent with what many artists experience: doors open faster once you’ve been “seen” in the right rooms. (barabasi.com)
3) The “traditional advice” isn’t the only route
Barabási discusses how some artists rise without following the classic “get a gallery and that’s the path” storyline—suggesting multiple pathways can lead to momentum. (Big Think)
That aligns with what we see now: studio artists building hybrid careers—direct sales + fairs + collectives + online marketplaces + selective gallery relationships.
“Your business will be built at the speed of relationships”
A friend of mine, Jessica Jordan, once said: “Your business will be built at the speed of relationships.”
That line sticks because it’s true in the art world in a very specific way:
- Shows happen because someone suggests your name
- Podcasts invite you because someone connected you
- Collectors buy because someone they trust vouched for you
- Collaborations happen because someone thought, “You two should meet.”
This is what I call relational equity: the trust, familiarity, and credibility you build over time with the people who influence opportunities and sales.
And the research above gives a framework for why relational equity matters: networks are not “extra.” Networks are infrastructure. (barabasi.com)
Why this matters even more right now
The global art market is constantly shifting, and “visibility” isn’t guaranteed just because you post consistently or make strong work.
For context: the Art Basel & UBS Art Market Report 2025 estimates global art market sales were about $57.5B in 2024, down year over year—meaning many artists and dealers are operating in a more cautious buying environment. (Art Basel)
In this kind of market, relationships matter even more because:
- buyers rely on trust
- referrals carry weight
- repeat collectors become the backbone of stable income
- opportunities concentrate around networks
The studio artist’s takeaway: build a “network strategy,” not just a marketing plan
Most artists are taught to focus on:
- portfolio quality
- artist statement
- applying to opportunities
- posting on social media
All important.
But if your goal is sustained momentum, you also need a plan for:
- where you’re building visibility
- who you’re building relationships with
- how you’re staying top-of-mind
- how you’re turning connections into opportunities and sales—without being salesy
Below is a practical approach you can use even if you’re busy, introverted, or short on time.
A practical “Network Effect” plan for studio artists
Step 1: Choose your visibility lane (don’t try to be everywhere)
Pick 1–2 primary lanes for the next 90 days:
- Local + regional: open studios, art walks, juried shows, artist-run spaces, collectives
- Industry-facing: curators, galleries, residency networks, arts orgs
- Collector-facing: studio sales, art fairs, interior designers, corporate collections
- Online visibility: Instagram + email list + a simple website that converts
Your goal is not “more exposure.” It’s aligned exposure—the kind that leads to the next step in your career.
Step 2: Build a “relationship map” (your career ecosystem)
Make a list in 4 categories:
- Peers (artists you respect at your level and one level ahead)
- Connectors (people who introduce others: curators, gallerists, writers, organizers, designers)
- Community (collectives, arts orgs, studios, local creative hubs)
- Collectors & buyers (past buyers, warm leads, design professionals)
Now circle 10 people you can build with this season—slowly and genuinely.
This is your network strategy. Not random networking. Not awkward DM blasts. Just consistent relationship-building with the right ecosystem.
Step 3: Create one “talkable” asset (so people can share you)
Opportunities travel through conversation. Make it easy for someone to say your name.
Choose one:
- a strong artist bio (short + long)
- a one-page PDF (portfolio + prices or inquiry steps)
- a studio visit invitation (email template + simple booking link)
- a clear “What I make / who it’s for” website homepage
If someone meets you at an opening, they should be able to:
- understand your work quickly
- remember you
- share you
If you want a guide with practical templates, check out our studio artist tool kit
Step 4: Use a simple “relationship cadence”
Here’s a non-cringey weekly rhythm:
- 1 connection: send a genuine note (compliment, congratulate, respond to a show, share something relevant)
- 1 visibility move: apply, pitch, attend, or share your work strategically
- 1 nurture touch: post a story, send an email, or share studio progress with context (process + meaning + availability)
That’s it. This compounds.
Step 5: Turn visibility into income (without pressure)
If you want this to support your business (not just your ego), add one clear pathway:
- If someone is interested, what’s next?
- “Join my collectors list”
- “Reply ‘CATALOG’ and I’ll send you the available works”
- “Book a studio visit”
- “Here’s my commission process”
- “Here’s my price guide”
A network is powerful—but it becomes sustainable when it connects to a sales system that feels like you.
A mindset shift that helps: stop aiming for “big,” aim for “better-connected”
A lot of artists think the goal is one huge break:
- one big gallery
- one viral post
- one major collector
But careers more often grow through a series of connected steps:
- one introduction → one opportunity
- one show → one collector
- one collector → one referral
- one curator → another curator
- one residency → a new city network
That’s the network effect in motion. (barabasi.com)
Try this: the 30-minute “Network Effect” reset (studio-artist friendly)
Set a timer and do this:
- Write down your next 1–2 career goals (show, sales, collectors, gallery conversations, etc.)
- List 10 people / spaces connected to those goals
- Choose 3 simple actions this week:
- attend one opening and introduce yourself to one person
- email one curator/organizer with a thoughtful note + link
- invite two people to a studio visit (or share a studio update email)
- reconnect with one past buyer
Repeat weekly for 8–12 weeks and you’ll feel the shift.
Final thought
If science can model and predict patterns of career momentum through exhibition networks, we don’t need to treat success like pure luck. (Science)
You can build a studio practice that’s supported by relationships, visibility, and opportunities you didn’t have access to last year—on purpose.
And you don’t have to do it the “traditional” way.
Want help building your relationship + visibility plan?
If you’d like support mapping your network strategy (and turning it into a clear monthly action plan), this is exactly what we do inside our Jumpstart sessions at Vivid Creative: clarity, priorities, and a practical path from studio time → visibility → consistent income.
