Last Artist Standing: Living and Sustaining a Creative Life Over 50

Edited by Sharon Louden
Published by Intellect Books (2025)
Distributed by University of Chicago Press 

Available now from University of Chicago Press and Amazon.

Last Artist Standing: Living and Sustaining a Creative Life Over 50 shines the spotlight on the lives of 31 artists over the age of 50, most of whom are underrepresented individuals whose voices the book amplifies. Although the marketplace generally overlooks these artists, their stories and careers are some of the most inspiring. They are mentors to other artists, having learned how to thrive and continue their creativity through decades of life's travails.

Their stories are being shared with the public so that their models can be replicated by all age groups, both within and beyond the art world. The focus is on this age group because, although the marketplace often overlooks these artists, their stories and careers are some of the most inspiring out there. They are mentors to other artists, having learned how to thrive and be creative through decades of life's travails.

Last Artist Standing will be Louden’s third publication in the series of Living and Sustaining a Creative Life books, but is part of the larger series involving other editors and contributors into 2030.

Last Artist Standing will address the following issues:  

1. the ability of artists over the age of 50 to remain contemporary as they adapt through generational shifts

2. artists give to the well-being of others and the backbone of freedom of speech

3. the physical, financial and professional challenges they overcome to remain vibrant and sustaining artists, and

4. their role as inspirational models to others who may be arriving late in their lives to the art-making world.

The selection criteria of each book in the series varies, but what is most common throughout the Last Artist Standing and the entire Living and Sustaining a Creative Life series of books is that every artist is forthcoming, humble, fearless, and generous to other artists in many ways. We learn how artists are exceptional examples of dedication, commitment, resiliency and giving to the well-being of others.

You can pre-order the book here:

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