Title: The Invisible Forces Behind Great Art

There are moments in an artist's life that redefine not only their work but their perspective. For me, one of those moments happened inside the Sistine Chapel.

Standing beneath Michelangelo's breathtaking ceiling, I felt something I struggle to put into words. It was more than awe. It was the realisation that this was the pinnacle of what it means to be an artist. Not because of fame or prestige, but because this was a creation that transcended time. It was only later, through reading, that I learned something equally important: Michelangelo wasn't a painter by nature. He was a sculptor, and yet it was Pope Julius II who believed in his vision and pushed him—perhaps even forced him—into creating one of the most iconic masterpieces in history.

Visit Monet Paintings at Musée Marmottan Monet in Paris

This discovery stayed with me.

A few days ago, while visiting the Musée Marmottan Monet in Paris, I was again swept into a quiet emotional storm. I hadn’t visited the famed Musée de l'Orangerie, but in learning more about Monet's life, I discovered that it was a friend and patron who reignited his flame, convincing him to paint again when he had nearly given up. That persuasion would eventually lead to the creation of his most immersive and poetic series: the Water Lilies. And with that, the idea for this article was born.

I began thinking about the roles patrons play in art. Not just collectors or clients. Not investors, sponsors or auction houses. But true believers. The ones who see a spark before the world notices the flame. The ones who create space for masterpieces to exist.

Today, we live in a world of overwhelming content and instant gratification. As an artist, I understand that we need to survive. We have bills. We adapt. But there’s a crucial difference between having a client and having a patron. A client hires you for a result. A patron nurtures you to grow. One buys a product. The other invests in possibility.

Think of Van Gogh. What might he have painted if someone had handed him a 10-meter canvas and the time, resources, and emotional support to fill it with vision instead of anguish? His brother Theo loved him, supported him, but couldn’t create that environment. It breaks my heart to imagine what was left unpainted.

In the past, powerful families like the Medicis saw art as a legacy. They didn’t just buy paintings; they funded revolutions of beauty. To support an artist wasn’t an act of charity—it was an act of immortality. They understood that culture, architecture, painting, music—these were the real monuments to human greatness. Now? We flaunt wealth through watches and supercars, not through a fresco that might inspire someone 500 years from now.

This isn’t a call for nostalgia. It’s a plea for rediscovery.

Of course, talent and skill must come from the artist. No one can replace the discipline it takes to create something lasting. But a masterpiece isn’t just born from solitude. It’s born from challenge, dialogue, opportunity. Support doesn’t diminish the work; it amplifies it.

Textile Installation by Joana Vasconcelos sets the backdrop of Dior's AW23 show Paris

We still see glimmers of this today. Dior collaborating with Joana Vasconcelos. Louis Vuitton giving Takashi Murakami a global canvas. These are modern examples of institutions choosing to empower an artist, to bridge commerce with culture. But they are rare.

I’m not writing this to ask for anything for myself. I paint for my own reasons, and my journey is mine. But I do long for a time when we looked at the objects of everyday life—buildings, cars, even lamps—with an eye for beauty, not just budget. When art was infused into design, not erased by efficiency.

I want to believe there are still invisible forces out there. Quiet believers. Dreamers who are ready to support the creation of something eternal. Because if we lose that, we lose more than art. We lose imagination.

To those who support artists, not for what they produce today but for what they might dare to create tomorrow—thank you.

You are the real authors of every masterpiece.

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