Natasha Jacobs, a 32-year-old artist from Eshowe in KwaZulu-Natal, never imagined that her journey would take her far from the vibrant art scene she envisioned in South Africa. Like many young artists, Natasha dreamed of pursuing a career in the arts and eventually owning her own art business. However, the realities of the art industry in South Africa proved to be a harsh wake-up call. The challenges of gaining recognition and securing a steady income as a full-time artist led Natasha to an unexpected chapter in her life—teaching visual arts in Saudi Arabia.
Having spent the past six years in the Kingdom, Natasha finds herself in a place she never anticipated. The move to Saudi Arabia was a result of necessity rather than ambition, as her dreams of thriving in the South African art world remained unfulfilled. While she had hoped to return to South Africa and establish her art business, the reality was different. Despite her efforts to reconnect with old contacts and build new relationships within the local art community, Natasha struggled to gain a foothold. “The arts scene has sort of changed a bit, and I had to now rebuild relationships,” she explained, reflecting on the difficulties of re-entering a scene that had moved on without her.
In 2022 and 2023, Natasha took time to focus on her art business in South Africa, but found herself grappling with the challenges of being out of the country for so long. The connections she had built during her university years were no longer as strong, and the competitive nature of the industry made it difficult to establish herself again. “I struggled because I’ve been out of the country for some time,” she said, acknowledging how difficult it was to navigate the changing dynamics of the South African art world. Yet, despite these struggles, Natasha knows that many artists face the same challenges of saturation and the harsh realities of the industry.
Despite her passion for creating art, Natasha found herself turning back to teaching as a way to provide stability. “In my heart, I want to work as a full-time artist. I never really wanted to teach,” she admitted. After a challenging fourth year in Saudi Arabia, Natasha briefly considered returning to South Africa to focus entirely on her art, but the reality of the competitive and shifting market made her reconsider. The decision to return to teaching was a practical one, as it provided a steady income in a place where she had already established herself professionally.
Now back in Saudi Arabia, Natasha is reflecting on her next move. A year and a half after putting her business on hold, she finds herself at a crossroads. Should she continue pursuing her passion for art, or focus solely on her teaching career? These are questions that she wrestles with as she contemplates her future. Despite the struggles, she still holds onto the desire to be a full-time artist, but the practicalities of life often weigh heavily on her decision-making. “Let me just think about if this is something I want to go into or do I want to give it up and solely focus on teaching,” Natasha said, acknowledging the internal conflict she faces.
In conversations with friends, Natasha has often discussed the challenges of maintaining momentum in an industry that feels increasingly saturated. “As artists, we were talking about how do you keep going when you know things are going to get difficult,” she shared, revealing the doubts that often arise when faced with obstacles in the art world. For many artists, the road is never easy, and Natasha’s journey is a reflection of the resilience required to navigate the ups and downs of pursuing a creative career. As she continues to weigh her options, Natasha Jacobs remains committed to finding a path that allows her to balance her passion for art with the realities of a challenging industry.
