The Hidden Art of Leo Bates

I'm fascinated by artists that spend a lifetime creating but not sharing that work with the world. It's the antithesis of Austin Kleon's mantra, "Show Your Work." Photographer Vivian Maier and fine artist Henry Darger are the top two examples that come to mind. If you don't know them, do a deep dive.

Thanks to Matt Glassmeyer I've now became aware of Leo Bates, a Brooklyn artist from the 70's that spent decades creating mountains of work but never letting it leave his studio space. This NY Times piece on him is an excellent starting point for learning his history and reasoning behind never sharing. Much of it is speculation, as he died in 2013.

In the end, the process of creation probably is more important than the sharing of a particular work but the Internet has made that headspace almost unfathomable.