Old in Art School

Old in Art School follows historian Nell Painter's return to college in her sixties to pursue undergraduate and graduate degrees in art. After retiring from Princeton as a distinguished professor, Painter enrolls at Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers, then continues to the Rhode Island School of Design for her MFA. The memoir chronicles her experience navigating the contemporary art world as both an older student and an accomplished academic transitioning to a new field. Painter faces challenges from skeptical professors, cultural differences between art and history disciplines, and her own evolving identity as she develops her artistic practice. Throughout her education, Painter must balance her art studies with caring for her elderly parents in Oakland, California while maintaining her existing career as a historian. The narrative tracks her artistic development alongside personal struggles and triumphs. The book examines intersecting questions of age, race, gender, and status in the art world, while exploring broader themes about creative growth and the nature of talent versus ambition. Painter's dual perspective as both insider and outsider allows for unique insights into academic and artistic institutions.

Readers appreciate Painter's honest examination of pursuing art school in her sixties, describing her experiences with ageism and racial dynamics in the art world. Many note the book resonates with anyone starting a new creative pursuit later in life. Readers highlight her detailed accounts of art school critiques, techniques, and the realities of being both a student and professor. Multiple reviews mention the value of her dual perspective as both an accomplished historian and art student. Common criticisms include: - Repetitive complaints about age discrimination - Meandering narrative structure - Too much focus on academic politics - Limited discussion of actual artwork Ratings: Goodreads: 3.7/5 (1,900+ ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (230+ ratings) Reader quote: "A fascinating look at what happens when someone at the top of one field becomes a beginner in another" - Goodreads reviewer Critics note the book works better as a memoir about aging and reinvention than as a traditional art school narrative.

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🎨 Nell Painter enrolled in art school at age 64, after retiring from her position as a distinguished history professor at Princeton University 📚 Before pursuing her art degree, Painter wrote several acclaimed books on American history, including "The History of White People" and "Sojourner Truth: A Life, A Symbol" 🎓 She earned both a BFA from Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University and an MFA from Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) in her 60s ✍️ Throughout her art education, Painter faced repeated questions about whether she could be considered a "real artist" due to her age, leading her to explore themes of ageism in the art world 🖼️ The book challenges traditional narratives about who can become an artist, while examining how race, age, and gender intersect in the contemporary art world