How to Write an Impressive and Professional Artist Statement

"An artist's statement is like a dating profile," writes Artsy's Editorial Director, Jessica Dimson. "You want to put your best foot forward and articulate why someone should care about your work."

Whether you're an emerging artist or a seasoned pro, crafting a compelling artist statement can feel like a daunting task. But never fear! I'm here to help. In this post, I will offer some tips and tricks for writing an artist statement that is sure to impress.

Why do I need an Artist Statement?

As a professional artist, you may be called upon to provide a written statement to accompany your work in a variety of settings. Whether it’s for an exhibition display at a gallery or to provide more context for your art on your website, having an artist statement can be a valuable marketing tool for your creative business.

An artist statement should be considered as a sales tool. In the same way that a good resume or CV will help you sell your skills to an employer, a well-written artist statement will help you sell your work to potential clients and art collectors. Just as importantly, it will also help you to clarify your own thinking about your work.

What do I put in my Artist Statement?

 Think of your artist statement as a way to communicate the following things:

-What you do as an artist

-How you do it

-Why you do it

-What is important to you about your work

-What your work is about – its themes and ideas

-How you would like people to respond to your work.

When writing your artist statement, try to be concise. Use clear language and avoid art jargon that the general public may not understand. A good rule of thumb is to keep your statement to one page, double-spaced, with a clear and attractive font choice (please no comic sans!). You can find some free design templates on Canva by searching for "Artist Statement".

What is the difference between an Artist Statement, an Artist CV and an Artist Bio?

An artist bio, artist statement and artist CV are all different ways to present information about yourself and your work to galleries, potential customers and clients or arts funding organisations. 

An artist bio is a short narrative that gives the reader an overview of your work, your process and your influences.

An artist statement is a more detailed explanation of your work that focuses on your creative process and how you want your work to be seen by the viewer. 

An artist CV is a comprehensive list of your art related educational background, exhibitions, awards, published works  and other professional achievements.

When deciding which type of information to include in each document, keep in mind the audience you are targeting. For example, an artist bio would be appropriate for a page on your website or a newspaper article, whereas an artist statement would be more appropriate for an art grant application or exhibition where you are showing new work.

An artist statement is a concise one page document that gives the viewer an introduction to your work. It should answer basic questions about your art practice, like who you are as an artist, what influences your work, what your process is like, or what themes you typically explore. For artists just starting to think about how to articulate their work, this can possibly feel overwhelming. However by breaking it down into a few key elements, you can start to form a statement that feels natural and true to your voice.

Here are a few things to consider when writing your artist statement:

-Location: Where are you based? This can be important in terms of the context for your work.

-Style: What would you describe your work as? This can be helpful in orienting the viewer.

-Medium: What materials do you typically use?

-Tools and mark making: What kind of tools or mark making do you use? Is there a specific way you approach making marks?

-Colours: Do you have a limited palette or do you use a wide range of colors?

-Inspiration: What inspires your work? This could be anything from other artists or movements to nature or current events.

-Message: What message are you hoping to communicate with your work?

-Story: Is there a personal story that informs your work?

- Feelings and emotion: How do you want people to feel when they look at your art?

Keep in mind that an artist statement is not meant to be a comprehensive overview of everything you’ve ever made or will make. It’s simply an introduction to help viewers engage with your work on a deeper level. As such, it’s okay if it evolves over time as your practice changes and grows.

I have created a FREE workbook for artists wanting to craft their own artist statement - DOWNLOAD YOUR WORKBOOK HERE

xx Laura