10 Artists Who Made It Without Art School

Get inspired by these 10 acclaimed artists. They didn't need art school to have their amazing careers.

Not Available Lead
Complex Original

Image via Complex Original

Not Available Lead

Though previous generations were taught that finishing school is the guaranteed gateway to having a successful career, today’s creative youth believe that a world-class education can equally be found outside the classroom. In an age of copious, often free online-learning centers and tutorials, it’s easier than ever to learn an artistic discipline and steadily turn it into a career.

The artists on this list defied expectations early on and did so in times when it wasn’t as socially acceptable to drop out of school. All of them forged new paths and became very successful by trusting their instincts. Check out 10 Artists Who Made It Without Art School below.

Miranda July

Not Available Interstitial

Jean-Michel Basquiat

Not Available Interstitial

Frida Kahlo

Not Available Interstitial

Yoko Ono

Not Available Interstitial

JR

Not Available Interstitial

Dustin Yellin

Not Available Interstitial

Ai Weiwei

Not Available Interstitial

Keith Haring

Not Available Interstitial

Jasper Johns

Not Available Interstitial

David Choe

Not Available Interstitial

Latest in Style