Art is really just an idea,” Mr. Axelrod said. “It’s follow through and direction. What makes a great artist nowadays is being able to put together a team. And he was willing to give up money to put his ideas to life.”

Maybe the greatest quality an artist can possess today isn’t skill or talent — it’s commitment to making a vision real. That means money and time. To create something to make the masses remember your name. What else is fame for?

“Gallery Hopes to Sell Kanye West’s ‘Famous’ Sculpture for $4 Million,” The New York Times; 31 Aug. 2016.

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