Glory
Here's the thing about glory when you're an art director:
The sets you design and construct, depending on what movies you work on, will be seen by millions (maybe even millions and millions and millions) of people right now and in years to come. Seriously, some of the viewers of your creations probably aren't even a twinkle in Daddy's eye right now. It's pretty awesome that what you do will live forever—more or less, anyway—on film.
However, there's another side to the glory story. While an audience member might look at your sets and think for a moment that they look really cool, your sets merely serve as a backdrop for actors. No one is going to finish a movie where you've worked as the art director, go home, and IMDB who made the sets.
No one outside of the industry—where you'll be well-known and well-respected, it's true—is going to know who you are. Most Americans couldn't even tell you what an art director's role in making movies is.
You're probably okay with this. If you wanted to be chased down the street by paparazzi and stalked by adoring fans, you'd be interested in becoming an actor, not an art director. But just be aware that, while your work may be praiseworthy, most people won't know or care to praise you.