Art, in its current state, has been fully commercialized in that if you don't have someone who is "in the know," then there is very, very slim chance of being successful. I was briefly in the art world (paintings) and everyone wanted to kiss the successful dealers' asses to get exposure and get a curated exhibition. W/o it, nothing's going to happen. It's sad but that's what it's become.
I think success in art is very much like any other industry. It's part luck, it's part "playing the game", it's part networking, and it's part skill & talent.
I'm a fine artist and would put myself in the "not successful" category. I don't make nearly enough to live off of it but it's inherently something I have to do. I could, and have, done commercial work in the past that I could live off of but I just can't bring myself to feed the content machine.
edit: And although I'm kind of ok with the "not successful" part I think my work is important and should be seen. More than anything my measure of success is to add to culture.
