Though the art space has a number of constituents, there are five principal players that form the core structure of this creative community. These include the artist, the dealer, the curator, the critic, the collector, and each plays a pivotal role.

Decorators are often independent artisans who specialize in artistic sugar pieces.

Merriam-Webster defines an artist as “a person who creates art (such as painting, sculpture, music, or writing) using conscious skill and creative imagination” and an artisan as “a worker who practices a trade or handicraft”. It doesn't say whether music and sculpture are trades.

An artist paints, draws, sculpts, makes a film or is skilled with something involving perception and the use of their hands. Because writing used to be done by longhand, writers and poets are also known as artists. An artiste is a professional entertainer, especially a singer or dancer: cabaret artistes.