So as a graphic designer who’s also an illustrator, where do I fall? 😩

Rico Gagliano: …What were your reasons to move into the fine art world? Why not stay in graphic design? Barbara Kruger: Well, first of all, I should say I admire designers incredibly. I think they have extraordinary ability to solve lots of visual problems. I think the difference is the client relationship. A designer has to create the images of someone else’s perfection, and an artist can deal with their own possibilities and their own angels and demons.

It’s art with a job.

having a function makes it design, not art

I avoid getting into this kind of conversation, because it gets us nowhere. Every time someone says my work is art, what I heard is it touched their hearts. And when they say it’s a good design, I heard “well thought out solution”. That’s what I need to know.

Graphic design is art with a purpose of communication mind. Fine art is where the artists challenge the viewer[s] to use their imagination to "finish:" the painting with their mind. YMMV. Tough I am a fine artist, in my opinion illustrators are the King and Queen of the most engaging art. Again YMMV