The Many Lives of Artists: From Medicine to Winemaking
A comprehensive article on Artribune explores the phenomenon of artists who pursue second careers, ranging from medicine to winemaking, teaching to bartending. The piece highlights historical figures like Alberto Burri (a doctor) and Andy Warhol (an advertiser), as well as contemporary artists such as Angelo Bellobono (ski instructor), Gabriele De Santis (plant shop owner), Hilario Isola (winemaker), and Luca Francesconi (forager and winemaker). It also covers artists in institutional roles, like Edi Rama (Prime Minister of Albania) and Cesare Pietroiusti (former President of Azienda Speciale Palaexpo). The article discusses the motivations behind these dual careers—economic necessity, passion, or a desire to enrich artistic practice—and notes the stigma artists often face when revealing non-art jobs. It includes interviews with eight artists: Ludovica Clorophilla Basso (B&B owner), Angelo Bellobono, Sabrina Casadei (atelierista), Costanza Coletti (yoga teacher), Luca Cutrufelli (cocktail bar owner), Gabriele De Santis, Hilario Isola, and Juan Eugenio Ochoa (surgeon). The piece concludes with a personal account by Alex Urso, an Artribune editor who also works as an artist, reflecting on the challenges of balancing multiple professional identities.
Key facts
- Alberto Burri was a doctor before becoming an artist.
- Andy Warhol worked as an advertiser.
- Angelo Bellobono is both an artist and a ski instructor.
- Gabriele De Santis founded Palma, a plant shop with locations in Rome, Turin, and Milan.
- Hilario Isola produces natural wines in Piedmont.
- Edi Rama is an artist and Prime Minister of Albania.
- Cesare Pietroiusti was President of Azienda Speciale Palaexpo.
- Alex Urso works as an editor at Artribune and also as an artist.
Entities
Artists
- Alberto Burri
- Ernesto Tatafiore
- Dario Neira
- Pino Pascali
- Andy Warhol
- Lee Krasner
- Kim Gordon
- Robert Mangold
- Mario Schifano
- Franco Angeli
- Stefano Arienti
- Andrea Conte
- Tomás Saraceno
- Marco Raparelli
- Giuseppe Stampone
- Nico Vascellari
- Angelo Bellobono
- Gabriele De Santis
- Hilario Isola
- Sandro Chia
- Luca Francesconi
- Costanza Coletti
- Ludovica Clorophilla Basso
- Sabrina Casadei
- Luca Cutrufelli
- Juan Eugenio Ochoa
- Alex Urso
- Edi Rama
- Cesare Pietroiusti
- Marco Delogu
- Gian Maria Tosatti
- Giuseppe Teofilo
- Santo Tolone
- Alek O.
- Ditte Gantriis
- Isabell Heimerdinger
- Laurek Keeley
- Jacopo Miliani
- Alessandro Vizzini
- Spring
- Gundam Air
- Dan Graham
- Toti Scialoja
- Lucio Amelio
- Maria Grazia Chiuri
- Charles Bukowski
- Fernando Pessoa
Institutions
- Artribune
- MoMA
- RAI
- Louis Vuitton
- Dior
- Ceramiche Marca Corona
- Seletti
- Sonic Youth
- Fondazione Pino Pascali
- Quadriennale di Roma
- Azienda Speciale Palaexpo
- Frutta Gallery
- Galerie Jocelyn Wolff
- Reggio Children
- Fondazione smART
- Centro Internazionale Loris Malaguzzi
- Università di Milano Bicocca
- Ospedale San Luca di Milano
- IRCCS
- Università Pontificia Bolivariana
- Castello Romitorio
- Artribune Magazine
- Art Workers Italia
Locations
- New York
- Rome
- Turin
- Milan
- Polignano a Mare
- Tirana
- Albania
- Piedmont
- Langhe
- Montalcino
- Tuscany
- Molise
- Mainarde
- Lipari
- Aeolian Islands
- Italy
- America
- Warsaw
- Nettuno
- Reggio Emilia
- Medellín
- Colombia
- San Giovanni
- Varsavia