Making It

JAŠA (Jaša Mrevlje-Pollak) at age 43 is one of the most prolific and influential contemporary European visual artists of his generation. He trained at the Academy in Venice (Accademia di Belle Arti di Venezia), where he graduated in 2004 with distinction and where he continues to teach. He has been featured in numerous publications, including Modern Painters, The Art Newspaper and Art in America. Based in Ljubljana and New York, his work has been exhibited around the world, including at Frieze London and New York and at the Venice Biennale. Learn more atwww.jasha.org. Noah Charney is an internationally best-selling author of more than a dozen books and a professor of art history specializing in art crime. His novel, The Art Thief, was a bestseller in five countries and is translated into 17 languages. His The Art of Forgery, Stealing the Mystic Lamb and Slovenology were international bestsellers. His book Collector of Lives: Giorgio Vasari and the Invention of Art was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize. He appears occasionally as a television presenter, with shows for BBC, National Geographic, among many others, and is in demand as a speaker, having been a finalist to be a TED Fellow and with recent talks at the National Gallery and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. He is currently writing a television series for HBO Europe, and writes regularly for the Guardian, the Washington Post, Salon, the Observer, and many other top magazines and newspapers. Trained in art history at The Courtauld Institute, Cambridge University, and University of Ljubljana, Charney has taught for many years, for Yale and Brown University, and in Cambridge, Florence, Rome, and Ljubljana. Charney is now a professor of art history at the American University of Rome and at University of Ljubljana in Slovenia, where Charney has lived for many years.

“The reason we create is to make a legacy that will outlive us, to reach those who might never meet us,” writes artist Jaša in his debut work, an earnest reference guide for aspiring professional artists. With the help of art historian Charney, Jaša touches upon a wide range of subjects, including where to find inspiration, how to exhibit work, and the mindset one should have when deciding to seriously pursue a career in art. Along the way, a number of maxims are doled out. Concerning art school: “Do not mistake life and success at art school for life and success outside of it.” Another grounding lesson is how the medium will always be lucrative, if only for a select few. “The market is ruled by those with big bucks... almost all of that money goes to a tiny percentage of artists.” As a general how-to guide, the work offers indispensable advice; however, its wisdom is still highly subjective. The real strength resides in the autobiographical accounts, as when Jaša recounts the personal highs and lows he’s encountered in an industry that only offers “just a few minutes to demonstrate that you’re worth more.” Written with a dry wit and heartfelt emotion, this will appeal to Jaša’s fans and those dreaming of a career in art.

• Introduction: Career Making vs Making Art1 On Origins and Early Years: Is it true that the greatest art emerges from unhappiness and dysfunction?2 The Making of the Artist:How do I choose between “real life” and schooling?3 At the Academy:How soon do I need to find my style?4 First Shows and Entering the Art Scene: How quickly and how should I show my work?5 Young Artist 101:How do I survive in my early years?6 Money, Art, Sex: How do I navigate the triumphs and pitfalls?7 Shifting to a Bigger Stage” How can I get into a museum of contemporary art through the back door? 8 Behind the Venice Biennale: How do you judge the success, from the external point of view, of your exhibit?