Molly Crabapple on What it Means to Be An Artist in New York City

Molly Crabapple is a relentlessly prolific artist, writer and activist. Her murals adorn the walls of famous night clubs in New York and London, and her writing has been published in Vanity Fair, the Paris Review, VICE and the New York Times. Through illustration, Molly has documented some of the most pivotal political moments of the last decade, from the 2008 recession to Occupy Wall Street, to life inside Guantanamo Bay, the Syria’s civil war.
Most recently, Molly published a memoir, “Drawing Blood,” that tells the story of her eclectic life and career. I wanted to understand what it really means to call yourself an artist in this crazy city and how she has managed to seamlessly blend her art with journalism, so I accepted her offer of drawing lessons at her live-in studio in Manhattan’s financial district.
Watch Next -- Chris Hedges on What it Takes to be a Rebel in Modern Times: bit.ly/1NKTFSN
Click here to subscribe to VICE: bit.ly/Subscribe-to-VICE
Check out our full video catalog: bit.ly/VICE-Videos
Videos, daily editorial and more: vice.com
More videos from the VICE network: www. vicevideos
Like VICE on Facebook: vice
Follow VICE on Twitter: / vice
Read our Tumblr: / vicemag
Follow us on Instagram: / vice
Check out our Pinterest: / vicemag

[@ogJbizz]

I think a lot of people came into this video with preconceived notions of what an artist is and how they act (or should act). This was downright interesting and worthy of the piece.

[@kershaw1450]

+Jonathan Byrne i'm pretty sure shes acting exactly how everyone thought a somewhat successful artist living in new york would act.

[@volusian95]

Nope. I expected an unbearably pretentious urbanite and that's what I got.

[@IndicacannaJones]

+Calgach V. If you think Molly Crabapple is pretentious, I can't imagine an artist on earth you would think isn't. I can't stand pretentiousness, not just in art, but in anything, and I've never gotten that from her. I have to wonder if your expectation of her hijacked your ability to potentially see her any other way.

[@joeabraham29]

+Jonathan Byrne They're all filthy hipsters.

[@kazuhirala]

This is the type of person you dont want to get the order wrong at Starbucks

[@julesverne6287]

No, she'll soon be the one taking my order, after her artistic dream falls apart...

[@L3uX]

+Lorcan O'Brien Artists like these dont fall apart, it's not like a job you get fired from and am done with. It's something you do your whole life.

[@kazuhirala]

Trippze Exactly

[@uhnah7652]

+Lorcan O'Brien lol molly crabapple is a fucking veteran at hustling as an artist, good luck w/ that hahaha

[@FearBoxFiles]

+adele k True, she could always go back to the nude modeling.

[@strilight]

She really looks like the person who you think of when you hear the surname Crabapple.

[@robthehitmanrude]

+strilight I thought of Mrs Crabapple. Then i starting thinking about Mrs Crabtree in South Park when she was murdered...

[@speedysandisk78]

RIP Edna

[@smokeandmirr0rs]

+strilight HA

[@joojojooo3740]

+strilight that's not her name, her real real name is obviously Jewish

[@kaelthassunstrider8402]

+strilight I just read it "Crappable".

[@shrekogreton6405]

It's a shame intelligence, candidness, and confidence are automatically seen as pretentiousness by so many people.

[@sickboy17292]

I thought the same reading the comments, but it make it more clear why people like nicki minaj have career... Strange world we live in.

[@shrekogreton6405]

Sick Boy Yep, and if it were someone like Nicki Minaj here saying the exact same things Molly did, the comments would be filled with nothing but her praises.

[@shrekogreton6405]

ZIPPOD BEEBILBROXEN I see where you're coming from, but I still don't completely agree. You mentioned her speaking as if she's an expert, as if she isn't, but I'd say she is. I'm saying that from a purely objective standpoint. She's made a name and success for herself in a field that's extremely hard to do that in. She's done better for herself than 99.99% of people with similar aspirations, and I'd say that affords her the right to give advice on how to get where she's got.

[@sickboy17292]

+ZIPPOD BEEBILBROXEN?

[@AssClappicus]

+Shrek Ogreton while i would rather see this woman than nicki minaj, none of the qualities you specified in the OP are mutually exclusive.

[@GothicCitrus]

She's actually saying a lot of smart and insightful things and her work is pretty good, but the way she presents herself... is just so... awful and pretentious... i can't....

[@yourlifeisagreatstory]

+Potatoeing I felt the same way. I spent the whole video flip flopping between agreement and annoyance. The irony of acting like you're not pretentious, but you just come across as pretentious.

[@LuspimeroM]

The drawings are ok.. but the bleeding heart deep emotion act is wiggling out my bullshit radar. Feels like she's paying lip service while profiting from some average art and design. I could be wrong...but I don't think so.

[@ITAKEYOURGP]

+Potatoeing i think thats just the way she expresses herself when explaining things and shes a little socially awkward maybe, i dont think shes actually pretentious

[@theIdlecrane]

+Potatoeing agree, these people are tossers. I couldn't finish the 3rd minute.

[@nncoco]

+Potatoeing A successful artist usually comes across this way. It is the language of the decision makers and patrons too.

[@Capgungoesbang]

She was criticizing artists who make money off selling work to rich people but how the hell does she afford to live there and all her art supplies?

[@uhnah7652]

+Capgungoesbang publishing books, running an art school, illustrating for CNN, Vice and DC Comics, fundraising politically themed shows, animating film with other collaborators, idk man ?????? must be daddy cash

[@silver2zilver]

This is the dumbest comment i read so far. Come on! you're saying because she said one thing that is true, that shes not allowed to do other things and make money off it when its not even hypocritical.

[@uhnah7652]

+Round Egg Films there's a difference between creating artwork for an aesthetic purpose of being visually edgy and 'contemporary' that only exists within 'the cube' that is the culture of the gallery format for people with millions of money, and creating work that is more didactic or contributes to wider culture that is far more accessible to the average person through things like comics or news articles or shows that are thought provoking.

[@uhnah7652]

+Round Egg Films that said I'm 100% an artist that she would hate and I do contribute to the gallery culture that she expresses distain for - but what she does isn't hypocritical at all.

[@EvaGreenFanPennyDreadful]

+adele k Jennifer Caban (Molly Crabapple) worked as a life model and a burlesque performer, and modeled for the Society of Illustrators. At the age of 19, she was modeling for SuicideGirls, and responding to ads in Craigslist for nude photographic modeling. Working as a model allowed Crabapple to earn more money than a typical day job and to continue working on her illustration.

[@CorbinGoodwin]

The first 18 seconds was the best insight I've heard about art in a while.

[@PrinceShakurYoutube]

I LIKE HER! she sounds into her work and the connections she's made

[@ambrosedreams]

The way that she talks is so relatable.... her mind ... confidence...

[@EzeICE]

the way she speaks kind of reminds me of a female version of Jessie Esienberg or something. ;)

[@ryflanigan5629]

why is everyone saying she's "pretentious"? she's not pretentious she's talking intelligently

[@Odlopo]

Average iq is an 87

[@rioreason]

ry flanigan If you can’t detect the haughtiness in the way she holds herself while talking about her work, you need to work on that. People are expected to have a certain amount of humility about their work. She sees herself as a great artist. One should always be aware of their flaws, or they’ll never truly be able improve and grow. She’s not expressing any of that. Her ego has been severely overinflated for whatever reason. Just because your work is popular doesn’t mean it’s good. If she showed just an ounce of humility, perhaps she wouldn’t be seen as so pretentious.

[@vigeefvg]

one of my favorite artist been following her for 6 years bought one of her books out of my comic book shop

[@CookbookAdventures]

Why do people think they need to be super fucking wacky to be a good artist?

[@kershaw1450]

+Sleepy cause its freakin cool and edgy

[@MrChaluliss]

+Sleepy You say that like wacky people choose to be wacky.

[@kershaw1450]

+MrChaluliss your just not deep enough to understand....

[@arbhall7572]

+Sleepy Because she thinks it makes her more interesting than her "art". Which she is entirely wrong about. Its good to see modern art, that is legible.

[@MrChaluliss]

Being condescending with overused statements or cliches does little to prove anything other than that your viewpoint is myopic and undeveloped.

[@baeziachow]

i don't know why you guys don't like her... I don't find her pretentious at all. I think she's just smart and thinks a lot so she talks real fast and uses big words. anyway what she's saying--the CONTENT, which matters not the tone of her voice, etc, has good points to it even if I don't agree with everything she says so all the hate is kind of ridiculous.

[@UnleashTheBlob]

"Fucking fuck fuck fuck art" - Molly Crabapple, true genius at work folks.

[@gamesman0118]

Why all the hate? She's an artist like or don't like her work but why hate her? People are so judgmental. I would like to know her just because she is an artist.

[@elisendap.h.f.984]

I love this!!! I want to create art for the sake of art, not to make rich people buy it. She is awesome!

[@jusaggoldcow1125]

ive never been the biggest fan of her artworks cos her writing (articles which almost always included her illustrations) was what led me to her. watching this, i never even imagined she'd be like this. i love it - very measured and assured yet strikes quick like a martial artist or something.... yall just hating, go read her stuff if u dont like her drawings.

[@Th3shootist]

These are the people that south park made fun of in that smug episode...

[@roboticvision86]

she made some good points, as for her character there were things i liked about it and things i did not but i could say that about most people

[@DoeDonDoe]

She is a real artist. This is the whole point of art.

[@rgrilghsrghvuailhe8314]

Stop giving these people attention

[@whitetuxmafiaandfilms5042]

It's actually really good art, like her personality is kinda pretentious, but overall her art is actually fantastic and some of the actual advice on art she gives holds true

[@rgrilghsrghvuailhe8314]

Nah there are so many people that deserve way more recognition than her, what really annoys me is she doesn't even seem grateful for the success that she has even considering that becoming a successful artist is like winning the lottery. Success != talent

[@scaryfaced1]

+George Costanza Name a few other artists that need this type of exposure. I'd like to see what they have to offer.

[@Adamszyndrowski]

+scaryfaced1 Skinner, Swampy, John Dwyer (thee oh sees)

[@waitahawhat]

+George Costanza Everything you say is all in your mind. Try looking at things from a different point of view.

[@supazsa]

she's so dope and her mindset is freeing

[@elijahrobinson5214]

WHO IS THIS INTERVIEWER? She was so intuned. Followed up so well and naturally. Would love to see more art "exposes" that she has done. please link

[@bodhifyer]

Y'all haters, she dope

[@snoopy6974]

Vice should do an Interview with Cesar santos...coz he is literally a living master...not comparing ..but after see this work..I really feel he should definitely get a shout out...

[@kirensangha5472]

Fun drinking game: take a shot every time she says "fucking"

[@lilbrolee2702]

Shes passionate not "pretentious" because pretentious people do not work, where molly has a long resume of art

[@bishopvelasquez]

I like her artwork. She's got a nice style.

[@GiuseppeAllettocontemporaryart]

really gooooooooooooood video!!! I'm an italian painter :) greetings from Milan

[@liquidpig]

The interviewer looks like a darker Kristen Schaal. Which I think is a good thing. She's cute as hell.

[@christopherpederson1021]

She, herself, is credited towards saving the art world.

[@purplegoat2500]

Toulouse-Lautrec can draw well. She cannot. Not that she couldn't, but she hasn't worked at it enough yet. Why bring us this vice? I'd love to see an interview with an artist at the skill level of her inspirations.

[@christianfountain11]

It's pretty damn egotistical to believe she is pretentious or "wacky" because of how she sees things or how she expresses her beliefs. If you don't like her work she's not in the wrong... you just don't get it or agree.

[@silver2zilver]

+ZIPPOD BEEBILBROXEN what's wrong with the definition of Pretentious? To be over ambitious, to love thyself. To me, she's real. She's RAW and she speaks from heart of truth. You see pretentious I see a woman who will be doing exactly what makes her feel right today, 10, 15, 30 years from now

[@rioreason]

Christian Fountain It’s not her beliefs people are viewing as pretentious. She views herself as a great artist. She isn’t expressing any humility. Most people are expected to have at least an ounce of it, especially in regard to creative endeavors. Her work may be popular, but she has more than a little room for improvement in both skill and technique.

[@-magdalena-4111]

She's forward, she's honest, she's raw. A lot of people hate that which you can see in the comments below. I think she's great. She's honest with herself and that's important in life.

[@henrychamberlain4724]

Molly is tough and that's what it takes to succeed. You don't need anyone else but yourself!

[@bouka5063]

I love this woman

[@violethaye6987]

wow she's so bold, and seen so much.

[@deaconthevampire9768]

Fantastic! Thank you Molly! Clearity and Experience! I feel kicked in the arse, told to work harder. some of us are looking to listen and learn, other are scared or lazy.

[@lynncraft6206]

The way she uses her talents as a strong voice for humanity is heroic.

[@myboythom]

yo molly despite what all these haters here are saying me and my Mrs both think your bang on so next time you are in England look us up missy .xx

[@duke8579]

Her artwork is amazing.

[@jackruby4857]

She makes crappy political cartoons.

[@AddieWagenknecht]

+Jack Ruby I want to disagree so bad but I can't. if she thinks art is boring, don't do it.

[@snoopy6974]

She is a good artist but not a great one...

[@artbytandy]

Vice needs to make a distinction between commercial artists and gallery artists. To be a gallery artist you don't particularly need to have good draftsmanship ability, if you make something that resonates with someone that is willing to buy your shit then that's good enough. Commercial artists have to be skilled in draftsmanship in order to acquire work, she sucks at drawing and painting it's pretty obvious but that's not what she's going after.

[@Ceph08]

I quite liked this video. The comments on the other hand are a total circlejerk. Either people are envious of her success or finicky about her voice.

[@BigEvan96]

Interesting insight.

[@geronimogarcia506]

I'm not sure why the disdain. but this woman is a goddess, and have mercy on the the unlucky person that finds themselves on the receiving end of all that beauty and intellect. that would be the end of anyone lol. damn.

[@qathi]

As a working artist (though not in NYC), she's laying bare a lot of truth about the nuts and bolts of being a working artist. By discussing her privilege and access she's letting us in on her process that could otherwise be taken as pretension or even opinion, (see previous comments). I'm glad to know that journalism has someone like her (and VICE) pushing world events into the media stream in a way that will be seen and criticized by our generation of media consumers.

[@memethingz6004]

She's an icon .

[@macbookproearly2011]

This would have been better without the interviewer, she just took up space. Very interesting video, Molly Crabapple is an interesting individual.

[@macbookproearly2011]

Jack Ruby but couldn't what you just said be said about anyone in any particular field?

[@ricecristi]

I need to know this woman 😍

[@jgugsu7251]

She caught me off guard with that F bomb within 5 seconds of the start of the video xD they don't swear in some of these documentaries

[@Wmom18]

Amazing!! Thank you both!!

[@danielbuys5262]

Inspiring, thought provoking. Thank you...

[@rsantiagoart2284]

She is f**king awesome! -Atlanta, Georgia U.S.A.

[@rioreason]

Richard Santiago II She completely lacks any humility. -Perry, Georgia U.S.A.

[@MrCamparisafari]

Ah hah shes a writer for vice as well ! Explains everything ! Activist my arse

[@adrianaosirish6065]

I like her ,she's great .

[@emilyknowlton8602]

Art can be ruthlessly competitive and harsh.

[@ryanhinderliter6206]

Firecrackers for ms crabapple her words are genius

[@DarkAngelEU]

As an art student I just picked out all the words from the intro that would be considered cliché and redundant to an artist when used describing them and their work: prolific, breed, pivotal, romantic, evolution, influential, modern. Being a journalist that's fine but please, these words are stating the obvious. Let the artist talk and make a description out of that, even when it comes down to biographies it is far more interesting to be inspired by the person you try to describe than using contrived vernacular. I would give the same advice for the video: do the interview first then make a video that shows the artist in a way that depicts the dialogue from the interview. She hates being inside and isolated from the world and there they are, sitting in her studio being all bland! Where is your passion for god's sake. VICE used to have an edge for these kind of things

[@sethstewartbrown13]

good doc!

[@johnkaiysen2772]

Dory gets the marker and IMMEDIATELY sniffs it....we know what she was doing in elementary school.

[@aparici1]

I was drawing like that when I was 10, no one ever said I was the most influential artist of our time.

[@bananadictator3032]

Because your art meant nothing

[@dizzymisslizzy8340]

well that’s your fault for never putting it out there and making it mean something, afterall there is a public for everything

[@NicolasTylerDoyle]

just because you can draw something that has some amount of visual literacy doesnt mean that political statements should be taken so much more seriously than one who doesnt have artistic skill .

[@greencane84]

I like Molly a lot.

[@davidhoggan5376]

It's pretty ironic how she used a double negative to explain how difficult writing is for her. :P

[@bananana2624]

"Molly Crabapple on what it means FOR HER to be an artist in NYC" should be the title.

[@jade3866]

She seems hella cool and her art is amazing

[@cerealkilla8930]

8:39 Yeah, you already said that.

[@okayeffinay1736]

art world: like the world of dance...w/out the fun

[@Stache224]

I will destroy pretentious artists.

[@volusian95]

Godspeed, Linda

[@leyway]

How is she pretentious?

[@volusian95]

+Leah S. Lel

[@TritonicTriggs]

With your glock

[@jimmybombimmy]

How are you going to destroy them?

[@zacadou]

I don't understand the dislikes, she's saying a lot of really interesting things. I can understand that her voice might be annoying

[@Fiferthedragonok]

AMEN!

[@lilians5068]

that apartment screams new york city.

[@rioreason]

Lilian S the apartment is disgusting.

[@denverrandy7143]

I really do love her art! Yeah. I saw the pretentious nature at first but then thought this is great Art and who am i to judge. Keep on keeping on Ms.Molly C.

[@mattozolinsmusic]

You my love are speaking my type of language.

[@nelisxviii8153]

I like Molly. she seems like a free thinking person to me...

[@J0eman49p]

change artist to illustrator

[@Odlopo]

J0eman49p what's the difference between the two?

[@bap175]

​@@Odlopo Illustration is generally more visual while art is more conceptual, there can be overlap

[@rioreason]

Black Amphiprion Almost: illustration is the visual portrayal of a specific concept (for example: political cartoons, comics, children’s books).

[@CraigVGS]

Don't you think writing a description as the art distorts the ability of the observer to enjoy it in their own way?

[@thomasmallary3874]

I love her

[@Phantompain7]

I heart her

[@growingbugs4847]

i wish i could talk that fast, plus her art is amazing!

[@laki74]

Who needs waterboarding to get a confession. Just send her in and let her just talk about her art. The poor soul will be confessing his guts in no time.

[@silver2zilver]

All the humans commenting as haters are losers who can't relate with this winner. She has a life that excites her and you can see it in the way she talks, what's your life?

[@reemalghanmi2833]

Very interesting person Love the interview

[@kpdrrn32]

Why's everyone giving her a hard time? Let her indulge her artistic side, she's probably not hurting anyone. There's far worse human beings on this planet to be annoyed about.

[@memethingz6004]

Bc these weak men don't like confident intelligent successful women

[@areinholdson]

That was neat.

[@MultiNustiu]

i want old VICE back :(

[@Nicholaslkane]

great interview

[@thundernegro]

She's intense! Thanks for the vid Vice!

[@TFICANADA]

This is the prime example of Dionysian Art. A very interesting video!

[@jackhackett80]

She may be smart, but pretentious is a true statement as well. I think it is an inherit trait of an artist.

[@redRAID3R]

I like her quite a bit...

[@OneCheapEric]

Sad to say the Chainsmokers sent me here, but happy I'm here.

[@smugg4511]

Happy Birthday Molly.. Me and you arrived on this earth on the same day same year. 9/13/83. Happy Birthday to Molly and I. I'm also an artist.

[@memethingz6004]

Queen

[@senorchiva]

great interview !

[@francisd7081]

Something tells me she doesn't have a boyfriend

[@jackruby4857]

She is art school in a human form.

[@ravenswood118]

+Alan D She does actually. His name is Fred.

[@That_ez]

+Alan D Fred needs to give her the D so she can be more chilled out lool

[@ninaprotaciom.9977]

for me its less boring than anything it tops everything

[@ThePattiw]

Molly Crabapple - truthful and to the point. Thank you!!!

[@sewpaintdraw]

Wow the judgement..Cut away the ideas you had coming into the video and listen to what she is saying not how she is saying it or the fact that she's a hipster or what ever the fuck, i think she is an intelligent woman who clearly speaks her mind and is talented. Wow people. don't get blinded by assumptions..cause that literally just makes us all nothing when you think about it... sheesh

[@sewpaintdraw]

+ZIPPOD BEEBILBROXEN I totally see where your coming from as well. I just think that sometimes people write a narrative before words are spoken and even though she fit into a mold most made for her before she even made a point she may be interesting none the less.