--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Sometimes being an artist is a real drag…" description: "\"Sometimes being an artist is a real drag. It can be incredibly bureaucratic.\" — Micah Lexier" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b3/micah-lexier-32856_art_sometimes-being-an-artist-is-a-real-drag_1004847.jpg" --- # Sometimes being an artist is a real drag. It can be… ![“Sometimes being an artist is a real drag. It can be incredibly bureaucratic.” quote by Micah Lexier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b3/micah-lexier-32856_art_sometimes-being-an-artist-is-a-real-drag_1004847.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b3/micah-lexier-32856_art_sometimes-being-an-artist-is-a-real-drag_1004847.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b3/micah-lexier-32856_art_sometimes-being-an-artist-is-a-real-drag_1004847.jpg) > “Sometimes being an artist is a real drag. It can be incredibly bureaucratic.” [Micah Lexier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/micah-lexier/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Describes artistic work as hindered by bureaucracy, reducing creative freedom. **In simple terms:** Bureaucracy can stifle artistic expression. Key Takeaway Seek ways to navigate or reduce red tape. Themes art bureaucracy creativity Mood frustrated thoughtful Type reflective critical When to use this quote - grant applications - studio management - exhibition planning Key Concepts cultural policy institutional critique Questions to Reflect On - How does bureaucracy affect your creative process? - What strategies help maintain artistic autonomy? A Different Perspective May ignore benefits of structure. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Artist Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist-real-1008429/) [Being an artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-an-artist/) [Bureaucratic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bureaucratic/) [Drag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drag/) [Drag Incredibly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drag-incredibly-2146012/) [Incredibly Bureaucratic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/incredibly-bureaucratic-2146011/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [Real Drag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real-drag-1355858/) [Sometimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sometimes/) ## Related quotes > [The real drag is trying to fly from country to country, day of show, with all your gear. You get hassled all the time.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-bird/the-real-drag-is-trying-to-fly-from-country-to-country-day-of-show/) [Andrew Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-bird/) > [I started school in the 4th grade and it was a real drag.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cree-summer/i-started-school-in-the-4th-grade-and-it-was-a-real-drag/) [Cree Summer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cree-summer/) > [Sometimes your dreams come true, and its a real drag.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-kinane/sometimes-your-dreams-come-true-and-its-a-real-drag/) [Kyle Kinane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-kinane/) > [I have to deal with some dumb folks. It's a real drag.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dj-spooky/i-have-to-deal-with-some-dumb-folks-it-s-a-real-drag/) [DJ Spooky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dj-spooky/) > [I hate self-publishing; it's a real drag and it takes up a lot of space.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-rees/i-hate-self-publishing-it-s-a-real-drag-and-it-takes-up-a-lot-of-space/) [David Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-rees/) > [Sometimes your dreams come true, and it's a real drag.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-kinane/sometimes-your-dreams-come-true-and-it-s-a-real-drag/) [Kyle Kinane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-kinane/) > [I'm an artist but I'm also a real person. I have bills like everyone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jpegmafia/i-m-an-artist-but-i-m-also-a-real-person-i-have-bills-like-everyone/) [JPEGMAFIA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jpegmafia/) > [The tools are real. The viewer is real, you, the artist, is real and a part of everything you paint. You connect yourself to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-brust/the-tools-are-real-the-viewer-is-real-you-the-artist-is-real-and-a/) [Steven Brust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-brust/) > [I want to be an artist artist, a real artist. I don't just want to do this for temporary money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cardi-b/i-want-to-be-an-artist-artist-a-real-artist-i-don-t-just-want-to-do/) [Cardi B](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cardi-b/) > [Creativity is not enough... the skill of the true artist is to show the real in the light of the ideal and so transfigure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-scruton/creativity-is-not-enough-the-skill-of-the-true-artist-is-to-show-the/) [Roger Scruton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-scruton/) > [What gives the artist real prestige is his imitators…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/igor-stravinsky/what-gives-the-artist-real-prestige-is-his-imitators/) [Igor Stravinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/igor-stravinsky/) > [I've always been an artist who's about being real and about telling the truth and making music with integrity and talking about something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/santigold/i-ve-always-been-an-artist-who-s-about-being-real-and-about-telling/) [Santigold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/santigold/) > [It is in an artist's real interest to congratulate herself more often: not out of narcissism, but in her role as her own dear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-maisel/it-is-in-an-artist-s-real-interest-to-congratulate-herself-more-often/) [Eric Maisel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-maisel/) > [If you're going to be an artist, real life is your inspiration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madonna-ciccone/if-you-re-going-to-be-an-artist-real-life-is-your-inspiration/) [Madonna Ciccone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madonna-ciccone/) > [I think that fame only goes to your head if you are not a real artist. If you are a real artist and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lady-starlight/i-think-that-fame-only-goes-to-your-head-if-you-are-not-a-real-artist/) [Lady Starlight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lady-starlight/) ## More by Micah Lexier > [As I'm getting older, I'm moving away from calculations and measurement. I'm trying to be more open to vulnerability and mistakes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/micah-lexier/as-i-m-getting-older-i-m-moving-away-from-calculations-and/) [Micah Lexier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/micah-lexier/) > [Maybe I don't think I'm touching people, but I am. Sometimes I'm sitting there at three in the morning, proofreading something, and I'm thinking,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/micah-lexier/maybe-i-don-t-think-i-m-touching-people-but-i-am-sometimes-i-m/) [Micah Lexier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/micah-lexier/) > [It's nice to make a project where you can show the full breadth of who you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/micah-lexier/it-s-nice-to-make-a-project-where-you-can-show-the-full-breadth-of/) [Micah Lexier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/micah-lexier/) > [Every time I work on a project, I keep every little piece of paper.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/micah-lexier/every-time-i-work-on-a-project-i-keep-every-little-piece-of-paper/) [Micah Lexier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/micah-lexier/) > [I don't cook for myself. I eat every meal out. I'm fed by others. I think it's a kind of social thing. I work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/micah-lexier/i-don-t-cook-for-myself-i-eat-every-meal-out-i-m-fed-by-others-i/) [Micah Lexier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/micah-lexier/) > [Instead of imposing something, let it make itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/micah-lexier/instead-of-imposing-something-let-it-make-itself/) [Micah Lexier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/micah-lexier/) > [I like well-made clothes, and I don't mind spending a lot of money on something that looks super, super simple. I don't like knockoffs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/micah-lexier/i-like-well-made-clothes-and-i-don-t-mind-spending-a-lot-of-money-on/) [Micah Lexier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/micah-lexier/) > [I carry a knife with me so I can cut images out of cardboard boxes. I'm always cutting cardboard. Especially every Thursday, which is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/micah-lexier/i-carry-a-knife-with-me-so-i-can-cut-images-out-of-cardboard-boxes-i/) [Micah Lexier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/micah-lexier/) > [I love thoroughness. I respect people that do a job well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/micah-lexier/i-love-thoroughness-i-respect-people-that-do-a-job-well/) [Micah Lexier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/micah-lexier/) > [I'm a collector. I was born a collector. I came out of the womb a collector. I can trace it back to childhood -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/micah-lexier/i-m-a-collector-i-was-born-a-collector-i-came-out-of-the-womb-a/) [Micah Lexier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/micah-lexier/) > [I have a lifetime project which consists of boxes and boxes filled with envelopes on which people have written my name. I've always thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/micah-lexier/i-have-a-lifetime-project-which-consists-of-boxes-and-boxes-filled/) [Micah Lexier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/micah-lexier/) > [Doing a job well is the thing. It's its own thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/micah-lexier/doing-a-job-well-is-the-thing-it-s-its-own-thing/) [Micah Lexier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/micah-lexier/) > [I like the authentic object, and I have no problem paying sixty dollars for a T-shirt if it fits me really well and it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/micah-lexier/i-like-the-authentic-object-and-i-have-no-problem-paying-sixty/) [Micah Lexier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/micah-lexier/) > [My collaborations have to be very positive. I will never work with a person I fight with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/micah-lexier/my-collaborations-have-to-be-very-positive-i-will-never-work-with-a/) [Micah Lexier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/micah-lexier/) [Explore all 15 Micah Lexier quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/micah-lexier/) ## More Art quotes > [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. Accordingly...they became abominably wicked, and they were justly exterminated by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/before-noah-men-having-only-water-to-drink-could-not-find-the-truth/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“Hear the sum of the whole matter in the compass of one brief word — every art possessed by man comes from Prometheus.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/hear-the-sum-of-the-whole-matter-in-the-compass-of-one-brief-word/) [Aeschylus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/) > [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/) [Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/) > [The capacity to be puzzled is the premise of all creation, be it in art or in science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-capacity-to-be-puzzled-is-the-premise-of-all-creation-be-it-in/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [That's the great secret of creativity. You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/that-s-the-great-secret-of-creativity-you-treat-ideas-like-cats-you/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [“So, really," continued Jacob as if this were perfectly normal to expound on art in these circumstances, "when you think about it, the artists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justina-chen-headley/so-really-continued-jacob-as-if-this-were-perfectly-normal-to-expound/) [Justina Chen Headley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justina-chen-headley/) > [“There are two options in art; either to adopt philosophical life by dissecting art, or to write your own philosophical life and claim it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taf-teh/there-are-two-options-in-art-either-to-adopt-philosophical-life-by/) [Taf Teh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taf-teh/) > [The house has to serve comfort. The work of art is revolutionary; the house is conservative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-loos/the-house-has-to-serve-comfort-the-work-of-art-is-revolutionary-the/) [Adolf Loos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-loos/) > [During human progress, every science is evolved out of its corresponding art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/during-human-progress-every-science-is-evolved-out-of-its/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [In literature and art memory is a synonym for invention. It is the life-blood of imagination, which faints and dies when the veins are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-aris-willmott/in-literature-and-art-memory-is-a-synonym-for-invention-it-is-the/) [Robert Aris Willmott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-aris-willmott/) > [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/) [G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/) > [“The only thing--I tell you this straight from the heart--that disgusts me in Salzburg is that one can't have any proper social intercourse with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/the-only-thing-i-tell-you-this-straight-from-the-heart-that-disgusts/) [Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/) > [The sublime in art is the attempt to express the infinite without finding in the realm of phenomena any object which proves itself fitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/the-sublime-in-art-is-the-attempt-to-express-the-infinite-without/) [Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/) > [Art isn't done to decorate apartments, but to wage war against the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/art-isn-t-done-to-decorate-apartments-but-to-wage-war-against-the/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) [Browse all 48,643 Art quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Sometimes being an artist is a real drag. 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