#agingcreatively

Three extraordinary creative women who took unconventional paths and found recognition for their art later in life.

Come with me while I deconstruct the Myth of Running Out of Time

Since the rise of social media, it has never been easier to compare our life paths to others. This is especially true for creative women who joined social media in their teens and have spent over a decade witnessing curated highlight reels of success. The pressure to be further ahead, to have made it, to become the person we think we ought to be, is relentless - and somehow, completely normalised. Now, in the final year of my 20s, I can see more clearly the quiet, insidious messages that sow doubt. As you step out of your 20s, society’s obsession with youth becomes impossible to ignore. Confidence grows with experience, yet we're expected to have our creative practice fully refined before we’ve had a decent amount of time to live into it. Many creative women leaving their 20s, or even their 30s, feel immense pressure around their art practice—trapped in a ‘now or never’ mentality about when they will achieve success If this pressure is alive within you and feels maddening, consider this an emotional and creative salve. Here are three extraordinary women who took unconventional paths and found recognition later in life: Marina Abramović, Sheila Hicks, and Bea Nettles.

Marina Abramović

Marina Abramović, The Artist Is Present, 2009, © The Museum of Modern Art Marina Abramović has had a path that was anything but conventional. Most of her life has been spent dedicated to Performance Art which was not widely recognised as an artform until her mainstream breakthrough came with The Artist Is Present show at MoMA in 2010, when she was 63 years old. She grew up in Belgrade, Serbia and until she was 29 years old she still had to be home by 10pm still living with her parents in their strict military-influenced household. Her career demonstrates that evolution within in art can occur at any time. Despite often being ahead of her time, she remained committed to her personal vision, using her body as a medium even as she aged. Her work is a testament to the power of persistence and self-discovery, showing that age can enhance the depth and meaning of one's work.

Sheila Hicks

Sheila Hicks standing next to her work Saffron Sentinel at the Kunsthalle Düsseldorf. Photo: Katja Illner; courtesy the artist; VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2024. Image via Apollo Magazine. Sheila Hicks had been creating textiles and weaving art since the 1950s, it was in the 2000s, while she was in her 70s, that she gained significant international recognition with large-scale installations and retrospectives. Sheila Hicks’ story is a beautiful reminder that age should not be a barrier to reinvention. Her success later in life is a result of staying true to her artistic vision, experimenting with materials, and trusting the creative process. She defied convention by using weaving not just for tapestries but for large, immersive sculptures, showing that age can bring a new dimension to art and bold innovation.

Bea Nettles

Moon and Star Tarot Cards by Bea Nettles found on Pinterest Bea Nettles had been exploring experimental photography since the 1970s, blending the medium with personal, esoteric, and feminist themes. She taught photography at universities while maintaining her own creative practice, yet widespread recognition for her work in the art and photography world didn’t come until the 1990s, when she was in her 50s. Her journey shows that persistence and authenticity can take time to pay off. Her early works were often unconventional, and it wasn’t until later that her exploration of themes like family, gender, and personal identity began to resonate more deeply with the art world. This is proof that following your vision, regardless of when recognition comes, will ultimately lead to creative fulfilment.

A Final Thought

As I stand at the threshold of my 30s, I remind myself: I’m not running out of time. I am exactly where I need to be - just as these women were exactly where they needed to be at every stage of their journey. So if you’re a creative woman feeling the weight of the ticking clock, know this: There is time. There is always time. Your art, your voice, your vision - they are yours to explore, to deepen, to live into. The timing of recognition is irrelevant; what matters is that you keep creating and strengthening the courage to share it.

What do I do?

I’m an EFT Tapping Practitioner (Emotional Freedom Techniques) and Healing-Focused Photographer. It’s my life’s work to help others get clear on the essence of who they are and what feels authentic for them. My goal is to support people in creating lives filled with emotional fulfilment, purpose, and joy.

If this resonates with you, you can find out more about my work and reach out through my website: claire-farrell.com

It's my honour to hold space as we explore the beliefs and barriers holding you back—making room for your most authentic self to thrive.