Future Relic: Failures, Disasters, Detours, and How I Made a Career as an Artist
Daniel Arsham
Mar 2026 · Simon and Schuster · Narrated by Daniel Arsham
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infoThis book will become available on March 3, 2026. You will not be charged until it is released.
About this audiobook
From broke Brooklyn artist to collaborations with Pharrell, Dior, and Porsche—discover the exact blueprint Daniel Arsham used to build his multi-million dollar art empire. The real business guide every creative needs but art school won't teach you.
Daniel Arsham went from sleeping in his studio to solo exhibitions in Paris, from rejection letters to creative partnerships with Tiffany & Co., Adidas, and serving as Creative Director for the Cleveland Cavaliers. Now, he's revealing the tactical playbook that transformed him into one of the most respected and sought-after visual artists of his generation. “His work makes you pay attention to humanity" (Pharrell Williams).
Future Relic isn't another romanticized artist memoir—it's your strategic handbook for creative success in the real world.
Inside, you'll discover:
This book “inspires the next generation to create with purpose and courage" (Nobu Matsuhisa). From building relationships with collectors to structuring legal entities, from pricing your work to managing cash flow during lean months—Arsham shares the hard-won lessons from two decades at the intersection of art and commerce.
Whether you're an emerging artist tired of the starving artist myth, a creative entrepreneur ready to scale, or anyone who believes their best work deserves real success—this is your companion for mastering the art world game and building a sustainable creative career.
Stop waiting for inspiration. Start building your empire.
Daniel Arsham went from sleeping in his studio to solo exhibitions in Paris, from rejection letters to creative partnerships with Tiffany & Co., Adidas, and serving as Creative Director for the Cleveland Cavaliers. Now, he's revealing the tactical playbook that transformed him into one of the most respected and sought-after visual artists of his generation. “His work makes you pay attention to humanity" (Pharrell Williams).
Future Relic isn't another romanticized artist memoir—it's your strategic handbook for creative success in the real world.
Inside, you'll discover:
- How to land gallery representation without connections or an MFA
- The business fundamentals that turned a studio practice into a global brand
- Negotiation tactics for licensing deals and brand partnerships worth millions
- Financial frameworks for scaling from solo artist to studio team of 20+
- The rejection-to-opportunity system that turned every "no" into career fuel
- Behind-the-scenes breakdowns of projects with Dior Men's, Pokémon × Uniqlo, and Porsche
This book “inspires the next generation to create with purpose and courage" (Nobu Matsuhisa). From building relationships with collectors to structuring legal entities, from pricing your work to managing cash flow during lean months—Arsham shares the hard-won lessons from two decades at the intersection of art and commerce.
Whether you're an emerging artist tired of the starving artist myth, a creative entrepreneur ready to scale, or anyone who believes their best work deserves real success—this is your companion for mastering the art world game and building a sustainable creative career.
Stop waiting for inspiration. Start building your empire.
About the author
Daniel Arsham is an artist whose work blends sculpture, architecture, performance, and design into a singular vision shaped by time, memory, and material experimentation. His now-iconic “eroded” aesthetic—artifacts rendered as if excavated from the future—has become a signature visual language that speaks to impermanence, nostalgia, and transformation. Born in Cleveland and raised in Miami, Arsham became the youngest artist ever to work with legendary choreographer Merce Cunningham. His work is in the collections of the world‘s most acclaimed museums and he has collaborated with major brands from Dior to Adidas.
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