Becoming an artist. Identity struggles for existential independence

The article addresses the issue of identity conflict faced by artists in the face of the challenges of the contemporary field of cultural production. Dealing with the phenomenon of artists’ identity conflict is thus a hitherto undescribed area of reality, the explanation of which is closely related to the motivations for becoming artistically active. The presented study aimed to characterize the process of becoming an artist, and particularly the approach to creative processes as defining identity. Thirty-seven individual in-depth interviews were conducted with artists. The results indicate a constant struggle for a sense of independence in deciding on one’s development and future, involving a “balancing act” between the different expectations of the environment and one’s vision of further personal development. As a result, this leads inevitably to identity conflict for artists.