Artist biography project instructions

How To Write A Professional Artist Bio

The artist&#;s biography is arguably one of the most crucial pieces of text and forms of communication for your art career. After reading, writing, and reviewing thousands of artists&#; biographies, we have identified all the necessary ingredients for a professional and industry-approved artist biography, empowering artists to have the best chances for success in the high-end art world, explained and illustrated in a step-by-step guide on how you can write your own artist bio.

First and foremost, we must very briefly discuss what makes a sound or professional artist bio. Here at CAI, we offer career advice for artists for success in the highest realms of the art world, pursuing artistic quality, critical recognition, and established gallery representation. From this perspective and objective, we must follow some unwritten rules of the art world so they will take us seriously. As a result, the artist&#;s bio is not written in the first person; it does not include jokes; it is not the ideal moment to show your personality, nor does it aim to be entertaining or poetic. A professional artist biography has a formal—almost academic—tone; it is descriptive, factual, concise, and, above all, professional.

Feel free to review all the artist biographies of the artists represented on the websites of the mega-galleries; David Zwirner, Gagosian, Thaddaeus Ropac, Lisson Gallery, et cetera. Even more, we can always identify the following ingredients in all those bios; the name and surname, most often concisely in three paragraphs, the different media that define the artist&#;s practice, a concise description of this practice encompassing the overall aesthetic and subject matter the artist discusses, followed by some factual information including the year and location of birth, where the artist is based, and a brief recital of some important career facts such as notable exhibitions, collections, participations in art events or eve

Artist Statement Guidelines

Artists can send their artist statement for professional review. GYST submission policies, examples of artist statements, and writing tips are found below:

What Is an Artist’s Statement?

  1. A general introduction to your work, a body of work, or a specific project.
  2. It should open with the work’s basic ideas in an overview of two or three sentences or a short paragraph.
  3. The second paragraph should go into detail about how these issues or ideas are presented in the work.
  4. If writing a full-page statement, you can include some of the following points:
    • Why you have created the work and its history.
    • Your overall vision.
    • What you expect from your audience and how they will react.
    • How your current work relates to your previous work.
    • Where your work fits in with current contemporary art.
    • How your work fits in with the history of art practice.
    • How your work fits into a group exhibition, or a series of projects you have done.
    • Sources and inspiration for your images.
    • Artists you have been influenced by or how your work relates to other artists’ work. Other influences.
    • How this work fits into a series or longer body of work.
    • How a certain technique is important to the work.
    • Your philosophy of art making or of the work’s origin.
  5. The final paragraph should recapitulate the most important points in the statement.

What an Artist’s Statement is NOT:

  1. Pomposity, writing a statement about your role in the world.
  2. Grandiose and empty expressions and clichés about your work and views.
  3. Technical and full of jargon.
  4. Long dissertations or explanations.
  5. Discourses on the materials and techniques you have employed.
  6. Poems or prosy writing.
  7. Folksy anecdotes about some important event in your life.
  8. Nothing about your childhood or family unless it is very relevant to your work.
  9. Not a brag fest or a press release.

Why Write an Artist’s Statement?

  1. Writing an artist’s statement can be a good way to clarify your own ideas about you
  • Self-taught artist bio sample

    • Crafting the right documents to showcase your work as an artist is essential for your professional journey and knowing how to sell your art.

    It’s not just about listing your accomplishments—it’s about telling your story and articulating your vision in a way that resonates deeply with your audience. Whether you are applying to be in one of your local galleries, trying to be accepted for a public art commission, or even looking to sell your art online or at art fairs, you'll need to create documents that effectively convey who you are as an artist and what your work represents.

    A strong artist bio, along with a compelling artist statement, CV, and resume, not only supports your applications but also plays a critical role in attracting potential buyers and collectors. These documents act as a bridge between you and your audience, helping them understand the person behind the art.

    At Milan Art Institute, we believe that your voice is unique, and it deserves to be presented in a way that resonates with your audience. Your story is your strength, and it’s what will draw people into your work.

    In this guide, we’ll explore how to write and craft a professional artist bio that truly reflects who you are and what your art stands for, ensuring you leave a lasting impression.

    What is an Artist Bio?

    An artist bio is more than just a summary of your artistic career; it’s a brief, powerful narrative that introduces you to your audience—whether they are curators, gallery owners, or art collectors.

    It is your first opportunity to connect on a personal level, giving readers insight into what inspires you and how your artistic journey has evolved over time.

    Your bio should convey the essence of your artistic practice, offering a glimpse into your inspirations, process, and achievements. Think of it as the story of your artistic journey, told in a way that captivates and resonates with those who encounter your work.

    It’s about creating that emotional connection with your au

  • Visual artist bio example

    • The Gallery’s Guide to Writing Good Artist Bios

    1. Create a concise summary

    An artist bio should concisely summarise the artist’s practice. It’s not about covering an artist’s entire CV or full biography. Focus on a few main points that you believe to best introduce the artist and their art. Always include the medium, themes, techniques, and influences the artist works with.

    2. Use clean, simple language

    Use clean, simple language and avoid academic jargon and exaggerated language. Readers respond to authentic, simple texts and will take you much more seriously than if you use over-embellished language.

    3. Grab the attention with a creative first sentence

    Try to start the bio with a first line that is not simply a standard biographical introduction. Instead, be more creative and write a first sentence that grabs your readers’ attention while also telling them what is the most important thing about this artist and their work.

    4. Include the artist's date of birth and nationality

    Always add the date of birth (and in the case of artists who have passed away, the date of death) and the nationality of the artist. Also mention where they are mainly based – readers are interested in knowing where an artist is living and working, as this adds to a certain understanding about the artist’s influences and way of working.

    5. Keep the bio around words

    The bio should be between 80 and words. An ideal artist bio is words. Research at museums has shown that visitors lose interest in reading wall labels accompanying art works after words. That’s why it’s better to limit your word count to around words – your readers will get enough information and be curious to learn more on their own, without getting bored and leaving your page because they don’t want to read an unnecessarily long text.

    6. Discuss medium, techniques and style

    Include all the important tangible aspects of the artist’s practice including: the medium and techniques the artist us