True life scenarios

True life scenarios in the life of an artist:

You die penniless, and all the people who own your work become millionaires.

You die, and all the work that you hoped would be in MoMa winds up in the Goodwill store.

You end up being better known for how fun you are at openings than for your artwork.

Nearing the peak of your career, you still have to hang your own work at your exhibits.

After a long academic career, your former students are more famous than you’ll ever be.

People ask your friends if you’re still alive.

Your work is on view nationally, but it’s all at Motel 6’s.

You’re asked to give a talk on your work, but it’s at a local retirement home to an audience of 5 with no honorarium.

Your only retrospective is the one collecting dust in your studio.

Your friends would be glad to have a piece of your work, free and ready to hang.

Your work finally gets a review in the local newspaper, but they misspell your name.

At your opening, a stranger tells you they really like your work, even more than Thomas Kinkade’s.