Your Artist Statement & Bio: A Practical Guide to the Story Behind Your Work

Your artwork speaks its own powerful visual language. But when applying for an exhibition, updating your website, or introducing yourself to a gallery, you need words to support it. An Artist Statement and Biography can feel daunting, but they are essential tools for connecting with your audience. Let’s demystify them.

Part 1: The Artist Statement – Your “Why” and “How”

An artist statement is a concise written piece about your current work and practice. It offers a glimpse into your motivation, methodology, and the thought processes behind your art. Its purpose is to pull the viewer closer, giving them a key to understanding your creative world.

Crafting Your Statement: A Guided Approach

Start by writing a long version (around 500 words), which you can then edit down for specific requests, e.g. catalogue entries or exhibition publicity (200, 100 or even 50 words). I store each version in separate files labelled by word count, making it easy to find and tweak the right one for any opportunity.

To build your statement, work through these key questions:

• What medium/media do you work with and why? Is there a crossover or mix between media?
• Where do your ideas come from? Are they influenced by your chosen materials or specific issues like nature or climate?
• What is your working process? Do you, like my friend who works with rust, have a seasonal practice?
• Does your work have a message or a core theme? (For me, it’s ‘hugs’ and connection).

Key Writing Tips:

• Use the First Person: This statement is from you. Use “I,” “me” and “my.”
• Be Authentic: Be honest about where you are on your artistic journey. Grandiose claims are often transparent. Explain why you make your work and where you see it going.
• Keep it Clear: Use plain English. If you must use a technical term, explain it clearly. Your audience is interested but may not be specialists.
• Stay Focused: This is about your work, not a philosophical debate.

What to Leave Out: Your qualifications, exhibition history, and previous career details do not belong here. That’s for your biography.

Part 2: The Artist Biography – Your Career in a Nutshell

Your biography, or bio, is a brief, third-person summary of your artistic career and background. It’s the professional counterpart to your personal statement.

What to Include in Your Bio:

• Your Background: Your place of birth and current location.
• Your Artistic Journey: Are you self-taught or formally educated? When did you become seriously interested in art?
• Your Influences: Where do you draw inspiration from?
• Your Career Highlights: List significant awards, exhibitions (in chronological order, latest first), and any public or private collections that hold your work. Do not include previous careers: they are not relevant. Just document your art career.
• Press & Reviews: Include any notable TV, press coverage, or critical reviews.
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A Final, Liberating Suggestion

If you feel overwhelmed, ask for help! Many of us have friends or colleagues with stronger writing skills. I have two people who check my work for grammar and clarity. They get to feel useful and needed, and I get accurate documents I’m proud to share. It’s a win-win.

Your Artist Statement and Biography are living documents. Revisit them every 6-12 months as your work evolves. They are not tests, but tools – your opportunity to guide the conversation about your art and connect with the right audience.

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