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The Artist's Roadmap: Practical Strategies for a Career in Art
A pocket-sized career guide for emerging artists, The Artist's Roadmap is essential for anyone looking to discover what underpins a professional practice within this field.
Being an artist is challenging. Not only are the skills difficult to master, but there is no single route to all artistic careers are different. Authored by the founders of Delphian Gallery―an artist-run gallery and digital platform―The Artist’s Roadmap charts the complex geography of the contemporary art world. This career guide reveals what goes on behind the exhibition display and in the curator’s office in a compassionately frank discussion of what professional practice means today and the commercial aspects of being an artist.
Rich in practical guidance, The Artist’s Roadmap positions early-career artists for those rare moments of opportunity that could define their career, while providing them with the tools and know-how to forge their own paths to success. Grounded and well-informed, this guide addresses everything from approaching galleries and understanding representation to the nuts and bolts of artistic business, such as shipping, tax, and insurance. At a time when artists are increasingly obliged to hide the realities of their practice behind tight-lipped exhibition texts and marketable mystique, The Artist’s Roadmap is refreshingly honest and an essential primer for any aspiring artist.
Being an artist is challenging. Not only are the skills difficult to master, but there is no single route to all artistic careers are different. Authored by the founders of Delphian Gallery―an artist-run gallery and digital platform―The Artist’s Roadmap charts the complex geography of the contemporary art world. This career guide reveals what goes on behind the exhibition display and in the curator’s office in a compassionately frank discussion of what professional practice means today and the commercial aspects of being an artist.
Rich in practical guidance, The Artist’s Roadmap positions early-career artists for those rare moments of opportunity that could define their career, while providing them with the tools and know-how to forge their own paths to success. Grounded and well-informed, this guide addresses everything from approaching galleries and understanding representation to the nuts and bolts of artistic business, such as shipping, tax, and insurance. At a time when artists are increasingly obliged to hide the realities of their practice behind tight-lipped exhibition texts and marketable mystique, The Artist’s Roadmap is refreshingly honest and an essential primer for any aspiring artist.
- GenresArt
208 pages, Paperback
Published March 31, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
An extremely helpful book that sets out all the hurdles and challenges that artist's will face and how to tackle them. It's a practical handbook that every early-career artist should read. I'd also recommend their previous book 'Navigating the art World'.
July 3, 2026
An amazing overview for someone who’s just starting to understand the mechanics of the art world and the art market. Extremely informative but also fun and interesting to read !
May 22, 2026
Q&A style chapters with great templates at the end (CV, cataloguing, invoices etc), if you have any questions it’s probably answered within the book. Doesn’t sugarcoat how much effort and sacrifices you will have to overcome, but has a reassuring tone and sections solely for maintaining your mental health 🪽
Review of advance copy
This book has helped me more than any other art career book I’ve read. The Artist’s Roadmap was a real eye-opener and gave me clarity I didn’t even realize I was missing. Instead of making the art world feel overwhelming or out of reach, it breaks things down in a way that feels honest, achievable, and deeply reassuring.
What I appreciated most is how practical and grounding it is. The advice doesn’t feel generic or idealistic—it feels like it was written by someone who truly understands the realities artists face. It helped me rethink my goals, my definition of success, and how I approach my work with much more confidence and direction.
I finished this book feeling calmer, more focused, and genuinely motivated. If you’re an artist feeling stuck, uncertain, or overwhelmed, this book can truly change how you see your path forward.
What I appreciated most is how practical and grounding it is. The advice doesn’t feel generic or idealistic—it feels like it was written by someone who truly understands the realities artists face. It helped me rethink my goals, my definition of success, and how I approach my work with much more confidence and direction.
I finished this book feeling calmer, more focused, and genuinely motivated. If you’re an artist feeling stuck, uncertain, or overwhelmed, this book can truly change how you see your path forward.
Review of advance copy
Managed to get hold of an advanced copy of this little gem and very glad I did.
It follows up on the promise of the first book by Delphian. We all know that making a living from our passion is very hard work and it's easy to quickly become discouraged. Having a book like this that shares all the experience, tips and tricks that the guys at Delphian have picked up over the years is invaluable.
This IS the book you're looking for if you're trying to make progress in the art world.
It follows up on the promise of the first book by Delphian. We all know that making a living from our passion is very hard work and it's easy to quickly become discouraged. Having a book like this that shares all the experience, tips and tricks that the guys at Delphian have picked up over the years is invaluable.
This IS the book you're looking for if you're trying to make progress in the art world.
Review of advance copy
Bought @ Saatchi Gallery London.
'... make sure you are taking care of business.'
'... make sure you are taking care of business.'
October 2, 2026
bom livro pra ler antes de entrar numa faculdade de artes.
July 11, 2026
Practical, generous and unexpectedly kind. Delphian clearly set out to inform and support artists at the beginning of their careers. The concern for the artist’s wellbeing is what elevates it. This is not a book that reaches the shelf, it keeps moving with you. The pocket format is a very deliberate and very good choice.
Review of advance copy received from Author
“Work hard, try not to compare your self to others, worry less, and try to retain the joy in art making through it all. If you’re able to achieve those things, you have already succeeded.”
Quoted from the last chapter of the book. A great and realistic roadmap!! It makes you feel more focused and determined, while also reminding you that deep down it’s all about the joy of making art!
Besides going through the concerns and doubts many artists especially emerging artists experience, the book also covers very practical aspects of an artist’s life. It touches on things like writing artist statements and CVs, dealing with taxes, and navigating relationships with galleries or representation of your work; which is usually the most draining part. But the book offers suggestions on how to make these processes easier and more efficient.
I believe that as a creative person, having a clearer roadmap like this helps a lot. When things are laid out more clearly, it becomes easier to navigate your own path and make sense of the different parts of an artist’s life.
Quoted from the last chapter of the book. A great and realistic roadmap!! It makes you feel more focused and determined, while also reminding you that deep down it’s all about the joy of making art!
Besides going through the concerns and doubts many artists especially emerging artists experience, the book also covers very practical aspects of an artist’s life. It touches on things like writing artist statements and CVs, dealing with taxes, and navigating relationships with galleries or representation of your work; which is usually the most draining part. But the book offers suggestions on how to make these processes easier and more efficient.
I believe that as a creative person, having a clearer roadmap like this helps a lot. When things are laid out more clearly, it becomes easier to navigate your own path and make sense of the different parts of an artist’s life.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Well I wrote it, so I had to give it five
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews