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Famous Artists' Surprising Day Jobs Revealed

publication · 2026-05-01

A DailyArt Magazine article explores the day jobs of famous artists, debunking the starving artist myth. Corita Kent was a pop artist and Roman Catholic nun, creating works like 'E eye love' (1968) at Tang Teaching Museum. Jeff Koons worked as a commodities broker on Wall Street before becoming 'The King of Kitsch,' known for 'Balloon Dog Yellow' (1993) at The Met. Mark Rothko taught at Brooklyn College and San Francisco Art Institute, fearing his work would be seen as decorative; his painting 'Red And Pink On Pink' (c. 1953) is at MFA Houston. Ai Weiwei was a heavy metal musician and professional blackjack player; his work 'Tree' (2010) is at Tate Modern. Henri Rousseau, nicknamed Le Douanier, was a tax collector, studied law, served 7 years in the army, and committed bank fraud; his 'Tiger in a Tropical Storm' (1891) is at National Gallery, London. Vivian Maier worked as a nanny and used fake names, amassing thousands of street photographs like 'Emmett Kelly as the Clown Figure' from the Maloof Collection.

Key facts

  • Corita Kent was a pop artist and Roman Catholic nun.
  • Jeff Koons worked as a commodities broker on Wall Street.
  • Mark Rothko taught at Brooklyn College and San Francisco Art Institute.
  • Ai Weiwei was a heavy metal musician and professional blackjack player.
  • Henri Rousseau was a tax collector, studied law, and committed bank fraud.
  • Vivian Maier worked as a nanny and used fake names.
  • Corita Kent's 'E eye love' (1968) is at Tang Teaching Museum.
  • Jeff Koons' 'Balloon Dog Yellow' (1993) is at The Met Museum.

Entities

Artists

  • Corita Kent
  • Andy Warhol
  • Jeff Koons
  • Mark Rothko
  • Ai Weiwei
  • Henri Rousseau
  • Vivian Maier

Institutions

  • DailyArt Magazine
  • The Frances Young Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery
  • The Met Museum
  • Brooklyn College
  • San Francisco Art Institute
  • The Museum Of Fine Arts, Houston
  • Tate Modern
  • National Gallery, London
  • Vivian Maier Maloof Collection

Locations

  • Saratoga County, NY, USA
  • New York, USA
  • Houston, USA
  • London, UK

Sources