The Power of Second Acts in an Artist’s Life
In the life of an artist, the second act represents a pivotal moment—a chance to reinvent, evolve, or reflect on a changing personal or creative identity.
Eric Fischl1, a renowned painter, notes that while an artist’s first act is about finding their voice, their second act is where the real test lies. It’s not about rediscovering that initial excitement but instead about refining, evolving, and enduring. "It can erase you or land you as a major artist," says Fischl, highlighting the unpredictable nature of second acts in an artist’s career.
"It can erase you or land you as a major artist" - Eric Fischl
Second acts in art careers can arise from numerous factors: shifts in personal circumstances, a response to new environments, or even the search for creative rejuvenation. They can take an artist in a completely new direction or build on earlier foundations in ways that are less visible but no less significant.
Some second acts are driven by a need for personal transformation, like those of Pierre-Auguste Renoir and Robert Rauschenberg. Others emerge from hardship or health challenges, as in the case of Amy Sherald and Yayoi Kusama. Still others, like Louise Bourgeois’ later work, show that an artist’s breakthrough may come only after years of relative obscurity.
Personal Change and Creative Reinvention
One of the most common reasons for an artist’s second act is a significant change in their personal life, which in turn influences their creative direction. Pierre-Auguste Renoir is a striking example of this. At the peak of his career as an Impressionist painter, Renoir made a dramatic pivot in his artistic style after a trip to Italy. Inspired by Renaissance masters like Titian and Raphael, his later works focused more on classical forms and nude studies, which were a departure from the spontaneity of his Impressionist beginnings.
Although critics were less fond of his later work, this shift reflected Renoir’s evolving personal life. As his son Jean Renoir noted in his biography, the artist’s marriage, children, and the onset of rheumatoid arthritis led to this second act, one that was more compatible with the rhythm of his later years. Renoir’s story illustrates how second acts can be less about maintaining fame and more about aligning one’s work with life’s changes2.
Similarly, Robert Rauschenberg’s second act emerged from a change in environment. After leaving the urban intensity of New York City, where his early works had helped inspire the Pop Art movement, Rauschenberg relocated to the quiet solitude of Captiva Island in Florida. His work, once defined by the gritty energy of city life, softened and became more experimental, incorporating new materials like cardboard and fabric. Though his later works didn’t achieve the same level of recognition as his early pieces, they are an integral part of his legacy as a constantly evolving artist who embraced creative reinvention3.
Hardship and the Search for New Beginnings
For some artists, second acts are born out of adversity. Amy Sherald’s career took an unexpected turn when she had to step away from her art to undergo a heart transplant and care for ill family members. After a four-year hiatus, she returned to painting and won the National Portrait Gallery’s Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition4. This win led to her being selected to paint the iconic portrait of Michelle Obama, which became a career-defining moment. Sherald’s second act illustrates how life’s difficulties can lead to periods of personal and professional resurgence5.
Yayoi Kusama, another artist whose second act was shaped by hardship, also offers a powerful example of creative survival. Kusama, who had been part of the vibrant New York art scene in the 1960s, struggled with mental health issues that led her to return to Japan in the 1970s, where she spent much of her time in a psychiatric facility. After years of obscurity, she experienced a resurgence in the late 1980s, and today, her immersive installations and signature polka-dotted pumpkins have made her one of the world’s most recognizable contemporary artists. Kusama’s second act demonstrates how perseverance and the right moment can bring even long-overlooked artists back into the spotlight6.
Late Bloomers and the Enduring Creative Spirit
Sometimes, an artist’s second act comes later in life, representing the culmination of decades of work and persistence. Louise Bourgeois’ career is perhaps the best example of this. Although she had been creating art for most of her life, it wasn’t until she was 70 that she achieved significant recognition with a retrospective at MoMA in New York7. Bourgeois’ large-scale spider8 sculptures, which have since become iconic, were created during this later period of her career. Her second act proves that breakthroughs can happen at any stage of life, and that some artists’ most powerful work may emerge when they are well into their later years.
The Mixed Legacy of Second Acts
A second act in an artist’s career can be a period of renewed creativity and personal discovery, but it is not always met with widespread acclaim. Artists like Pierre-Auguste Renoir and Robert Rauschenberg underwent significant shifts in their artistic vision, which, though meaningful to their own creative development, didn’t always resonate with critics or the public. This shows that while second acts align with an artist’s evolving life or vision, they don’t always guarantee the same level of recognition as their earlier work.
In contrast, artists like Amy Sherald, Louise Bourgeois, and Yayoi Kusama exemplify how a second act can redefine or revive a career. These artists found greater success later in life, whether through perseverance, personal transformation, or creative resilience. Their stories show that a second act can be as powerful as the first, offering new opportunities for artistic growth.
Conclusion: The Lifelong Evolution of an Artist
An artist’s journey is rarely linear; it is shaped by life’s challenges, personal circumstances, and evolving visions.
This phase of reinvention can arise from a need for creative rejuvenation, personal hardship, or simply the natural progression of life. It often represents a shift from external validation to internal fulfillment, allowing artists to reflect on their earlier achievements and create work that resonates with their personal growth.
Pablo Picasso’s exploration of ceramics in his later years and Georgia O’Keeffe’s transformation after moving to New Mexico are prime examples of how even well-established artists can reinvent themselves. Picasso found joy in a new medium, while O’Keeffe’s desert landscapes became iconic, revitalizing her career. David Hockney’s embrace of digital technology in his later years is another example of an artist continuing to innovate and connect with new audiences.
In the end, the second act is about evolution and creative exploration. It may not always lead to greater fame, but it reflects an artist’s ongoing desire to innovate and grow. Whether in the public eye or personal solitude, the second act is a testament to the artist’s enduring creative spirit.
https://www.artspace.com/magazine/interviews_features/meet_the_artist/eric-fischl-interview-52414
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/renoirs-controversial-second-act-4941803/
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/24/arts/design/rauschenberg-mnuchin-gladstone-art.html
https://hub.jhu.edu/2017/10/16/amy-sherald-artist-paints-michelle-obama-portrait/
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/23/arts/design/amy-sherald-michelle-obama-official-portrait.html
http://www.kusamamovie.com/
https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artists/louise-bourgeois-2351/art-louise-bourgeois
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louise_Bourgeois