5 Non-Art Careers You Can Pursue With an Art Background

Hey there, fellow creatives! If you love art but aren’t sure if becoming a full-time artist is the right path for you, don’t worry, you have options! Art and your creativity can open doors to a wide range of careers that don’t require standing at an easel every day.

Art isn’t just about creating beautiful visuals—it’s about thinking outside the box, solving problems in innovative ways, and communicating ideas through design. Guess what? Those skills are highly valued in a variety of industries. So, if you’re wondering what other paths you can take with an art background, here are five non-art careers that are perfect for creative minds like yours.

Art Therapist
Have you ever thought about how your art could help people heal? Art therapy is one of those unique careers that blends the emotional power of art with the science of psychology. As an art therapist, you would use creative techniques to help people explore their emotions, manage stress, and process trauma. In this career, Art is about about giving people a safe space to express themselves, find clarity, and heal through the creative process.

In this role, you’d work with individuals or groups, guiding them in using art as a tool for self-expression and self-discovery. Many art therapists work in settings like schools, hospitals, rehabilitation centers, or mental health clinics. To get started, you’d need to pursue a master’s degree in art therapy, but it’s an incredibly rewarding career where you can combine your love for art with helping others work through difficult emotions.

UX Designer
Have you ever wondered why some apps are super intuitive and easy to navigate, while others just make you want to scream at your phone? That’s where UX designers come in! UX design is all about making sure digital products, like websites and apps, are user-friendly, easy to understand, and visually appealing.

Your art background gives you a huge advantage in UX design. Artists are already skilled at understanding visual communication, user interaction, and how design can influence behavior. As a UX designer, you’d work on everything from wireframes to the final interface, collaborating with developers and product managers to create seamless, enjoyable user experiences.

The best part? UX design is a growing field with tons of job opportunities. Plus, it allows you to combine your artistic talent with problem-solving skills. So, if you’re tech-savvy and enjoy thinking about how people interact with design, UX could be your perfect fit!

Creative Director
Picture this: You’re the mastermind behind an ad campaign, a brand’s identity, or a major creative project. That’s the job of a creative director. Creative directors are the visionaries who lead and guide creative teams to bring concepts to life. They oversee everything from the initial idea to the finished product—whether it’s an ad, a video, a logo, or a website.

In this role, you’ll need to tap into your artistic abilities to brainstorm big ideas while also making sure everything aligns with the brand’s message and goals. Creative directors are often responsible for setting the overall artistic direction of a project, managing teams of designers, and ensuring that every visual element is on point.

This job is a perfect fit for artists who love collaborating, leading, and thinking strategically about how to communicate ideas visually. It’s not just about making things look good. Being a Creative Director is about crafting powerful messages that resonate with audiences.

Art Educator or Teaching Artist
You don’t have to be in a traditional classroom to be an art educator. Suppose you’re passionate about sharing your knowledge and inspiring others. In that case, teaching art can be a fulfilling career that keeps you connected to your creative roots while helping others discover their own artistic potential.

Art educators often work in museums, community centers, after-school programs, or even as freelance teachers. You might teach classes in drawing, painting, or digital art, or you could lead workshops for kids, teens, or adults. You don’t need to work in a formal school setting to teach art. There are so many opportunities to share your skills and passion with others in non-traditional environments.

The best part is that you get to inspire and guide students in their own creative journeys. It’s a career where you get to shape minds, encourage personal growth, and foster a love of art in others.

Marketing & Branding Strategist
Marketing and Branding Strategist is a natural choice for artists. As a marketing and branding strategist, you’ll use your artistic skills to help companies tell their story, create visual identities, and connect with customers. Whether it’s developing a new logo, designing a website, or crafting a social media campaign, your art background will give you a unique edge in creating engaging, memorable content.

The world of marketing is all about visual communication, and artists are experts in this area. As a branding strategist, you’ll need to think creatively about how to represent a brand visually and emotionally. Whether it’s through design, content creation, or digital campaigns, your creative approach will play a key role in how the public perceives the brand.

Marketing and branding are constantly evolving, with new trends and technologies emerging all the time. It’s a fast-paced, dynamic career where you can use both your artistic and strategic skills to make a real impact.

The Takeaway
So there you have it! 5 non-art careers that you can totally rock with an art background! Whether you want to help people through art therapy, create seamless user experiences, lead creative teams, inspire others as a teacher, or help brands communicate their message, your artistic skills are more valuable than you might think.

The world is full of opportunities for creative thinkers like you. Art is about creating beautiful images to problem-solve, connect with others, and think outside the box. Go ahead and explore these careers to see where your creativity can take you.

Have you ever thought about pursuing one of these paths? Or maybe you’ve already started? Drop a comment below and let me know! I’d love to hear about your creative career journey.