He is surprised that in Lithuania, people still expect the state to fund art. “In America, that doesn’t happen – if your work doesn’t attract attention, you won’t survive. It may seem harsh, but at the same time, it’s liberating – you can create what you truly believe in because you’re independent of others’ expectations,” he reflects.

In the Beyond Economics and Back podcast, Ray Bartkus talks with Elena Leontjeva about creative freedom, the relationship between art and the market, and the importance of continuous improvement.