how to write a biography about yourself as an artist

Chris Wilson

10 Examples of artist bios: How to write a super artist bio

Examples of artist bios often include key elements like the artist's name, area of expertise, career milestones, personal interests, and contact info. They're tailored to engage the audience while reflecting the artist's unique voice and journey.

Ever find yourself staring at a blank screen, wondering how to condense your artistic journey into a few paragraphs?

Trust me, you're not alone.

An artist bio isn't just a list of facts; it's a narrative that invites people into your creative world.

So, why is it so crucial?

Well, it's your handshake with the audience, a way to say, “Hey, this is me, and this is my art.”

Stick around as we go into the how-tos and examples of artist bios that make a lasting impression.

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Key Takeaways

• Define your artistic identity clearly : Your bio is your opportunity to introduce not just your art, but who you are as an artist. It should include your medium, inspiration, and artistic goals. This clarity helps in aligning your business plan with your art, ensuring your marketing strategies and portfolio resonate with your artistic vision.
• Use your unique voice : Inject your personality into your bio to make it stand out. Whether your tone is serious, whimsical, or quirky, ensure it reflects the uniqueness of your art. This authenticity makes your bio more engaging and memorable, inviting your audience into your creative world.
• Update regularly : As your artistic journey evolves, so should your bio. Regular updates reflecting new milestones, exhibitions, or shifts in your artistic focus keep your audience informed and engaged. This dynamic approach ensures your bio remains relevant and an accurate reflection of your current artistic identity.

Defining Yourself as an Artist in Your Bio Informs Your Business Plan

There is an interesting interplay between your artist bio and your business plan.

You see, your artist bio isn't just a narrative; it's a declaration of your artistic identity . It's where you lay out your style, your inspirations, your goals—essentially, it's where you define who you are as an artist.

And guess what?

When you're clear about your artistic identity in your bio, it becomes easier to map out a business plan that truly aligns with your art and your aspirations.

Your bio can help you identify your target audience, decide on the right marketing strategies, and even guide you in creating a portfolio that resonates with your artistic vision.

The Artist Bio vs. The Artist Statement: What's the Difference?

The artist bio and the artist statement—two essential pieces of writing, yet each serves a distinct purpose in the world of art.

Your artist bio is like the opening scene of a film; it sets the stage and introduces the characters. It's a narrative that tells the story of you—the artist. It covers your journey, your influences, your achievements, and even a bit of your personality. It's a comprehensive look at who you are, aimed at engaging the audience and making them want to know more about you and, by extension, your art.

Now, the artist statement, that's a different beast altogether.

Think of it as a spotlight that shines exclusively on a specific body of work. It's your chance to delve deep into your artistic process, the themes you explore, and the techniques you employ.

While your bio might say, “I'm a painter inspired by nature,” your artist statement would elaborate on how the colors of autumn leaves influence your palette, or how the texture of tree bark finds its way into your brush strokes. It's more focused, more immediate, and speaks directly to the art that's right in front of the viewer.

So, while your bio draws people into your world, your artist statement guides them through a specific landscape within that world.

Writing the Perfect Artist Bio

Your artistic title: what's your medium.

First things first, let's get clear on what you do.

Are you a painter, a digital artist, or maybe a sculptor?

Your title sets the stage, so make it clear and precise.

Your Home Base: Where's Your Creative Den?

Your location can say a lot about you and your art.

Whether you're soaking up the urban vibes of a bustling city or drawing inspiration from a tranquil countryside, let people know where you're coming from—literally.

Your Milestones: What's Your Artistic Journey?

Here's where you can brag a little. Got any exhibitions, awards, or significant projects under your belt? This is the time to shine a spotlight on them.

A Dash of You: What Makes You Tick?

Throw in some personal tidbits to make your bio relatable. Are you a coffee addict, a night owl, or maybe a hiking enthusiast? These little details can make you more memorable.

Stay Connected: How Can We Reach You?

Don't forget to include ways people can connect with you. Your website, social media handles, and other contact information should be easily accessible.

Tips for Improving Your Artist Bio

Crafting an artist bio is like painting a self-portrait with words. It's a small canvas, but it can make a big impact.

Here are some tips that'll help you brush up your bio and make it a masterpiece.

Understand the Audience

First off, know who you're talking to.

Are you aiming for gallery curators, potential clients, or a broader audience on social media?

Tailoring your tone and content based on your audience can make your bio resonate more effectively.

For instance, if your primary audience is other artists, you might want to delve into the nitty-gritty of your techniques.

Use Your Unique Voice

Your art is unique, and so are you.

Let your personality shine through your writing. Whether you're quirky, serious, or whimsical, your voice should be consistent with the art you create.

This adds a layer of authenticity and makes your bio more engaging.

Consider Length Requirements

How long should it be?

Well, it depends on where your bio will be published.

If it's for a gallery submission, they might have specific word limits.

On your own website, you have more freedom.

But remember, a bio is like a good sketch—detailed enough to be interesting, but not so much that it becomes a full-blown painting.

Additional Artist Bio Tips

• Avoid Jargon : Unless your audience is well-versed in art terminology, keep it simple. You want to invite people into your world, not alienate them.
• Be Honest, Be You : Authenticity shines brighter than any embellishment. Your bio should be a true reflection of who you are as an artist.
• Proofreading is Your Friend : Before publishing, make sure to proofread your bio. A typo can be a small thing that takes away from the overall picture. Maybe even get a second pair of eyes to look it over.
• Update, Update, Update : Your art evolves, and so should your bio. Every time there's a significant change in your artistic journey, take a moment to update your bio.

Examples of Artist Bios

Example 1: the landscape painter.

Sarah Green – Your Friendly Neighborhood Landscape Painter

I'm Sarah Green, and I'm carving my path as a landscape painter right here in the heart of Maplewood. I'm honing my skills at Maplewood Community College's Fine Arts program and have had the joy of showcasing my work at local art fairs.

My art is a love letter to Mother Nature, capturing her in her most tranquil moments.

When I'm not with my easel and paints, you'll find me trekking through local trails or lending a hand at our community animal shelter. Nature and critters aren't just my muse; they're my world.

Curious to see my work or just want to chat? Swing by my website or give me a follow on Instagram. Let's connect!

Example 2: The Fine Art Photographer

Tim Lee – Capturing the Urban Jungle Through My Lens

I'm Tim Lee, a budding fine art photographer rooted in the vibrant city of Chicago. I've taken some killer online courses and even had my work grace the walls of a local café.

My lens is drawn to the raw energy of city life—graffiti, faces, and all the little things that make our urban world tick.

When I'm not behind the camera, you'll catch me sipping on some artisanal coffee or cruising the streets on my skateboard. The city isn't just my canvas; it's my playground.

Want to reach out? You can find me and my work on my website or get a daily dose of my urban adventures on Twitter.

Example 3: The Abstract Painter

Emily Patel – Diving Into the Emotional Depths of Abstract Art

Hello, beautiful people! I'm Emily Patel, an up-and-coming abstract painter soaking up the sun in San Diego. I'm a self-taught artist, and I'm just beginning to dip my toes into the colorful world of abstract painting.

My art is a journey through emotions, guided by a symphony of colors and textures.

When I'm not lost in my art, I find peace in yoga and inspiration in poetry—both of which seep into my work.

Want to connect or explore my art? Feel free to visit my brand-new website or follow my artistic journey on Facebook.

Example 4: The Sculptor Finding Beauty in the Mundane

Mark Thompson – Sculpting Everyday Objects into Art

I'm Mark Thompson, a sculptor based in the artsy town of Asheville. I've studied at the Asheville School of Art and have been featured in several local exhibitions.

My sculptures turn everyday objects into something extraordinary, challenging how we view the world around us.

When I'm not sculpting, I'm usually found at flea markets hunting for my next inspiration or playing the guitar.

Interested in my work? Visit my website or follow me on Pinterest for my latest creations.

Example 5: The Digital Artist with a Social Message

Lisa Kim – Digital Art for Social Change

I'm Lisa Kim, a digital artist operating out of New York City. I've completed a digital art course from NYU and my art often appears in online social campaigns.

My digital canvases are platforms for social justice, aiming to provoke thought and inspire change.

Outside of art, I'm an avid reader and a volunteer at a local food bank.

Feel free to check out my portfolio online or connect with me on LinkedIn.

Example 6: The Watercolor Artist Inspired by Travel

Carlos Rivera – Painting the World One Brushstroke at a Time

I'm Carlos Rivera, a watercolor artist who finds inspiration from my travels. I've studied art in Spain and have exhibited my work in various European cities.

My art is a passport to different cultures, capturing the essence of places I've visited.

When I'm not painting, I'm planning my next adventure or cooking up some international cuisine.

You can find my work and travel stories on my blog or follow me on Instagram.

Example 7: The Mixed Media Artist

Angela White – Mixing Media, Mixing Messages

I'm Angela White, a mixed media artist based in San Francisco. I've taken workshops from renowned artists and have participated in group shows.

My art blends materials and messages, creating a unique narrative in each piece.

In my free time, I enjoy hiking and have a soft spot for vintage fashion.

To see my latest projects or to get in touch, visit my website or find me on Etsy.

Example 8: The Portrait Artist with a Twist

Jake O'Brien – Portraits That Tell a Story

Hey folks! I'm Jake O'Brien, a portrait artist from Boston. I've studied at the Boston School of Fine Arts and my work has been featured in several local galleries.

My portraits aren't just faces; they're stories waiting to be told.

When I'm not painting, I'm usually found at jazz clubs or writing short stories.

Curious about my work? Check out my portfolio on my website or follow me on Tumblr.

Example 9: The Environmental Artist

Fiona Chen – Art for Earth's Sake

I'm Fiona Chen, an environmental artist based in Vancouver. I've collaborated with environmental organizations and have had my installations displayed at eco-festivals.

My art is a call to action, aiming to raise awareness about environmental issues.

Outside of my art, I'm an active member of local environmental groups and a weekend gardener.

To learn more or to collaborate, visit my website or connect with me on LinkedIn.

Example 10: The Ceramic Artist

Raj Kaur – Crafting Stories in Clay

I'm Raj Kaur, a ceramic artist from London. I've trained under master potters and have my own studio where I teach pottery classes.

My ceramics are more than objects; they're vessels of stories and traditions.

When I'm not at the wheel, I enjoy cooking and exploring local art scenes.

Interested? You can find my pieces and upcoming classes on my website or follow me on Pinterest.

FAQs and Additional Tips for Your Artist Bio

Crafting an artist bio isn't just about listing facts; it's about telling a story, your story .

Here are some frequently asked questions and additional tips that can help you make your bio not just informative but also engaging and reflective of your unique artistic voice.

How Can You Infuse Your Unique Artistic Voice Into Your Bio?

Your bio should be as unique as your art.

Use descriptive language that reflects your artistic style. If your art is whimsical and colorful, let that show in your choice of words. If it's dark and moody, your bio can reflect that tone.

Your bio should feel like an extension of your art, offering a textual snapshot of what you bring to the canvas, the sculpture, or the lens.

What Aspects of Your Artistic Journey Are Most Compelling and Should Be Highlighted?

Think about the milestones and experiences that have shaped you as an artist.

Did a particular event or person inspire you to take up art?

Have you won awards or participated in exhibitions?

Maybe you've traveled to unique places for your art?

These are the stories that make you interesting and relatable. Include them to give a fuller picture of who you are.

How Can Your Bio Serve as a Tool for Audience Engagement and Even Advocacy for Causes You Care About?

Your bio isn't just a CV; it's a platform.

If you're passionate about certain causes, like environmental conservation or social justice, your bio is a space to advocate for these issues. Mention projects or artworks that reflect these causes.

It not only shows that you stand for something but also attracts like-minded individuals who may become supporters of both your art and your cause.

How To Write An Artist Bio With Tips and Lots of Examples

I have summarized the more important parts of this article below. Let’s have a look at some tips for an artist bio and below it some tips for an artist bio for an emerging artist.

For a Professional Artist Biography:

• Keep it Short : Your biography should be a brief overview of key facts about your art career.
• Easy to Read : Start with a catchy first sentence to get the reader interested.
• Write as an Observer : Use the third person to talk about your art and career.
• Important Facts Only : Mention things like your birth date, nationality, job title, the art forms you use, your style and main themes, and other key career details.
• Ideal Length : Aim for about 120 words, but keep it between 80 and 140 words.

For an Emerging Artist Biography:

• Background Info : Mention where you were born and places you’ve lived.
• Artistic Roots : Talk about what or who inspires your art.
• Education in Art : If you’ve had any art training or education, include it.
• Self-Taught Artists : If you haven’t had formal training, explain how you’ve learned and developed your art skills on your own.

Keep reading as I cover the topic in more detail, giving artist bio examples and the like.

Writing an Artist biography is probably one of the hardest things I have had to write. If you are reading this then I assume you are struggling with this as well.

Whether you are an artist making modern art , a painter or a visual artist looking for representation in an art gallery then you need to get your artist bio done right.

What’s the difference between an artist biography, artist statement, and artist profile?

Here are some bullet points to summarize each for those who do not know the key differences.

Below are some bullet points that highlight the key differences between an artist biography, artist statement, and artist profile. I will then dive into more details of each with examples you can use.:

Artist Biography:

• Focuses on the artist’s life and career, often including personal information and significant events or achievements.
• Written in third-person perspective.
• Typically includes a summary of the artist’s education, influences, and creative process, as well as critical reception and awards.

Artist Statement:

• Focuses on the artist’s creative process and artistic vision.
• Written in first-person perspective.
• Typically includes a description of the artist’s style, techniques, themes, and motivations, as well as any philosophical or conceptual ideas that inform the work.

Artist Profile:

• Similar to a bio, but typically shorter and more concise.
• Often used as a promotional tool on social media, artist directories, or other online platforms.
• May include a brief bio, statement, and selected images of the artist’s work.
• Generally less formal than a traditional bio or statement, and may be written in first or third person.

What is an artist biography (Artist bio)?

Before we start, you should understand the difference between an artist biography and an artist statement vs an artist profile.

Each one serves its own purpose and should be used for a specific goal in mind.

In its simplest form, an artist biography is a summary of you as an artist in a few paragraphs (some say 50 words is all you need). Artist bios should detail your qualifications and any training you undertook as an artist (if you are not qualified you can just omit this part). You then detail your influences, your achievements and contact details. It is usually followed by a brief artist statement.

What to include in an artist biography about yourself

An artist biography needs to take into account the life and work of you as an artist. It usually covers significant events and accomplishments throughout your artistic career, as well as personal information that helps to understand the context in which your art was created.

An artist biography can also include information about your artistic education, influences, creative process, and the evolution of their style over time. It may also discuss the critical reception of their work, as well as any awards or recognition they have received.

Get to the point quickly

An artist bio should get to the point quickly. This is because the reader of the bio may have limited time or attention span, and may be looking for a quick summary of your artistic career and style.

A concise and well-organized bio can help to capture the reader’s interest and convey the most important information about your work in a short amount of time.

This can be really important in situations where you are trying to promote yourself or your art, such as when applying for grants, exhibitions, or other opportunities.

In addition, a clear and focused bio can help to establish your credibility and professionalism as an artist. It shows that you have a clear sense of your artistic identity and are able to communicate it effectively to others.

Of course, this doesn’t mean that you should sacrifice depth or detail in your bio. It’s important to strike a balance between brevity and substance, providing enough information to give the reader a sense of who you are as an artist and what makes your work unique.

Speak in your own voice

One thing to note, many artists refer to themselves in the third person which I believe can come across as a little pretentious.

Another pretentious artist is the last thing the world needs.

Here are some tips for writing an artist bio in your own voice:

• Start by brainstorming a list of the key points you want to convey about yourself and your work.
• Write in the first person (“I” instead of “the artist”).
• Use a conversational tone and avoid jargon or overly technical language.
• Highlight your unique qualities, experiences, and perspective.
• Include personal anecdotes or stories that illustrate your artistic journey.
• Focus on what motivates and inspires you as an artist.
• Be concise and to the point, keeping the reader’s attention in mind.
• Don’t be afraid to show some personality and express yourself creatively in the bio.
• Read your bio aloud to make sure it flows well and sounds natural.
• Have someone else read your bio and provide feedback on clarity and tone.

Here are some things not to include in your artist bio:

• Personal information that is not relevant to your art, such as your marital status or political beliefs.
• Negative or overly critical comments about other artists or art forms.
• A list of every single exhibition or show you have ever participated in. Instead, focus on the most significant or noteworthy ones. This is a big one ok!
• Unsubstantiated claims or exaggerations about your accomplishments or abilities.
• Vague or clichéd language that doesn’t really say anything about your work or style.
• Rambling or overly long paragraphs that make it difficult for the reader to follow.
• Too much technical jargon or insider terminology that may not be easily understood by a general audience.
• Personal opinions that may be divisive or controversial, unless they are integral to your artistic vision or message.
• Information that may compromise your privacy or security, such as your home address or phone number.

Using your own voice makes you more relatable.

Click here if you wish to skip to the section on How to write an artist bio with steps and examples.

Can a non-artist write an artist bio for you?

Artist biographies can also be written by art historians, curators or other experts in the field. This is because artist bios can also be found in exhibition catalogs, art books , and online resources.

A great artist bio can provide valuable insights into your artistic life and work and can help to deepen our understanding and appreciation of your art, especially if art lovers find something in your back story that they can relate to.

What is an Artist Statement

An artist’s statement is a brief description of your work as a whole. The purpose of an artist statement is to give anyone looking at your work some context around why you work a certain way so that they can either connect with you or the subject matter. The artist statement should cover the “why” you do things and not the “who you are”.

You would usually include an artist statement as part of the artist biography.

For more information on Artist’s Statements, wikipedia has some further reading.

What is an Artist Profile

The Artist Profile is quite interesting, it is a mix of both the artist bio and artist statement. The difference is the artist profile packages both pieces of information into an interesting page designed to ‘hook’ the reader into wanting to learn more about you as the artist as well as your art and your interests.

Think of the artist profile as the first page of a really interesting novel, designed to make the reader want to keep reading and learn more.

Use good story-telling techniques when planning your artist profile.

If you are struggling to write an Artist Biography and Artist Statement, try writing an Artist Profile instead as it lets you channel your creative energy rather than following a boring format.

Here is an example of an Artist Bio with an Artist Statement

Here are some real examples of artist profiles (some famous artists some not)

Anselm Kiefer

Someone like Anselm who has a long and distinguished career, his artist bio can start to look like a long laundry list of accomplishments and doesn’t actually tell us anything new. My tip is to not follow this example (see below for an image or click on the link above to view his page)

Do not write a laundry list of accomplishments and facts!

Rhian Malin (though it is written in the 3rd person..)

I quite like Rhian’s artist bio even though it is written in the 3rd person. But if you take a look at their artist biography you will notice that the first line makes her personable. She was inspired by her grandmother’s collection. We can all relate to seeing something at a grandparent’s home that would have awed us as children and then went on to influence us. Be personable.

Rhian then describes their approach and where they work. The list of accomplishments are not a laundry list and they appear at the bottom making you believe that accomplishments are a by product of inspiration and making art.

I quite like Rhian’s approach.

Larry Poons

Larry Poons also follows the more traditional approach to writing an artist biography. It is the typical laundry list of accomplishments and facts but what I do like is the photo. It is not a pretentious professional photo of the artist in a black turtleneck trying to look cool. The photo looks more natural.

Jeff Koons – As he has so many achievements, Jeff’s website also has formatted his bio into sections covering Awards and Honors , Talks and Lectures and Collections .

Another list of accomplishments and an unnaturally posed photo. Please do not go down this path of a boring artist bio, be original and be likeable. Make yourself relatable.

Be original, personable and likeable. Stay true to character and do not appear fake.

Why write an artist biography (bio). What is the purpose of an artist bio?

What is the purpose of writing an artist bio? Is it for vanity, was it requested by art galleries or was it just so that you could be found in search engines?

Most artists write an artist bio because other artists have written one. Pretty simple.

Personally I don’t have a formal artist bio written and the only time I pull one together is when I am entering an art competition and it is part of the entry form.

When we write our artist biography we need to ask ourselves “Who is it for?” You should write to your audience and not to yourself.

An artist bio Is like an informal Resume

Writing an artist bio is a bit like a resume. It can feel cold, impersonal and detached.

When we write a resume we are writing for a specific audience such as a recruiter but the goal is the same.

When we write an Artist Bio:

• We are writing to a curator or collector.
• We want them to know our skills
• We want them to know our qualifications
• We want them to know what we are good at
• We want them to know what makes us so much better than the next person that the reader will want to invest in us, our art
• and finally we want them to know WHY we became an artist and why we are pursuing the arts.

Give people your “why” when creating an artist bio

When you write an artist biography I have found it to be actually quite harder than a resume.

When we write a resume we tend to be able to be more objective about our skills, work and achievements but with art, we are emotionally invested and being an artist is core to our self identity.

Types of artist biographies

Artist biography for self taught artists.

Self taught artists may believe the lack of a formal qualification or training in the arts may preclude them from needing an artist biography.

I suffered from an inferiority complex for many years as I too am a self taught artist.

Self taught artists can usually do well with an artist profile instead of an artist bio as it can gloss over or skip over any need to highlight their qualifications.

So if you are a self taught artist, write your artist biography listing all your achievements, influences, showings, sales and include an artist statement.

Then when it comes to qualifications, highlight that you have been an artist for X amount of years, highlight your experience over any qualifications.

Experience can be better than education

Now I’ll get on my high horse.. Not being formally trained is not a hindrance. In fact, an art degree or tertiary qualification is actually only a recent thing for artists. Most artists until the 20th century were trained as artist apprentices or self taught. None had a piece of paper proclaiming that they were now part of the creative elite!

As we no longer have artists guilds to confirm our skills as an artist, then some use a degree or diploma as a proxy. Though this does not guarantee that you are as good an artist as any other.

Artist Biography for Qualified Artists

Many contemporary artists have some form of qualification they will include in their artist biography. If you have a certification in a specific field, or use of a specific tool then note that down.

Otherwise your artist biography and artist statement should read like any other.

Artist Biography for Beginner artist biography

When you are a beginner artist your experience will be little, you may not have even had a showing yet and you may not have any qualifications.

When I was 17 I entered the Doug Moran National Portrait prize (in Australia) which is a $100,000 Acquisitive portrait prize.

I had about 5 years of artist experience under my belt, 1 showing in my high school where I won first prize for a portrait of Marilyn Monroe and 2 sales of my paintings.

The prizes required I submit an artist bio and artist statement. I did not know what to do so I left it all blank.

Today I would give the same advice as I give to self taught artists, highlight your achievements to date and not add anything negative.

Remember my resume example. When we start working we have nothing to add as experience but we document all the transferable skills we have all that we can offer.

As a beginner artist, add what you have done to date and be proud of that. If you have not done anything of note yet, then note what your influences are and where you want to go with your art career.

What should an artist biography include?

What to include in an artist biography.

Images – Should I include an image of myself?

Just like in a resume, unless you are one extremely good looking person or you have a very original look that can help with your persona or help people remember you (think of Dali’s moustache) then do not include an image or photo of yourself.

Ensure you provide any links to where you have exhibited.

Ensure you provide any links to where you have sold your works. If you are unable to link to article showing a sale, then note down the item sold, when it was sold and the details of the artwork.

You do not need to note the price it sold for or who purchased the artwork.

Where possible, link to any articles about you or your works that are of note.

How to write an artist biography about yourself

The best way to write an artist biography is to start looking at the artist biography examples found on the internet.

The hardest thing I found was collating all the information I wanted to include in my bio. What I found was when I just did a brain dump without putting my thought into dates etc it was easier.

The first things you should do, using sticky notes:

• Collect and organise any courses you have completed. Don’t worry about the years commenced or completed.
• Write down keywords that you would use to describe your influences and put these aside. These can be art styles, people or places.
• Write down why you do what you do as an artist, was it something you have known since you can remember? Was it a specific experience?
• Write down any key achievements you have had so far in your art career.
• Your name and where you live and where you typically work from
• What styles or mediums do you work in?

Once you have these noted down, you actually have the key points required for an artist biography. All we need to do now is start writing the artist bio.

How do you start a biography?

Grab those sticky notes we just wrote. Put them in this order:

• Why you do what you do as an artist, that something you have known since you can remember or that specific experience.
• Those keywords that you used to describe your influences. The art styles, people or places.
• The styles or mediums do you work in
• The courses you have completed.
• The key achievements you have had so far in your art career.

Now that you have put all the raw data into some meaningful order, you just need to pad these out into properly worded paragraphs and ensure that they have a natural flow to them.

If you find that hard to do then take a look at some real artist biography examples to draw inspiration from. Find a few you like and experiment.

Artist Biography Examples

How to write an artist biography sample.

Here are some real examples of artist biographies to draw inspiration from. Note : One take away from all the examples I researched (apart from Rita Ackermann) is that they were all badly formatted and hard to read.

So please take some time to ensure that your artist biography is formatted so that it is easy to read on a computer and also on a smartphone.

EVELYN SOSA

Cuban, born 1989.

An Award winning photographer, Evelyn Sosa Rojas was born in 1989 in Havana, Cuba, where she still lives and work. In her practice, since 2008, Sosa specializes in amazingly soulful portraits. Sosa shows the power of femininity through photos of women in different familiar or intimate settings. In 2016, Sosa was the winner of the Herman Puig Prize, awarded yearly to the best artist of the Body Photography Salon in Havana. In her powerful series “Women’s portraits”, Sosa captures the very essence of each subject in a simple, sensual and compelling way. Sosa has an ability to capture the depth of the eyes and gaze, showing the subject soul and deep thoughts. In 2019, Uncommon Beauty published a photo-book , HAVANA INTIMATE, through the lens of Evelyn Sosa. In a scholarly essay written for the book, Grethel Morell Otero, the recipient of the 2019 Cuban National Curator Award, and a published authority in Cuban photography wrote: “her (Sosa) work represents something of a vanguard movement in contemporary artistic photography’. Website

Joseph Rolella

Born in Sydney in 1972, Rolella completed a Bachelor of Visual Arts (Honours) in 1994 and went on to obtain a Masters in Visual Arts at the University of Western Sydney in 1998. Joseph Rolella has exhibited consistently for the past twelve years both nationally and internationally. Rolella has won several major art prizes including the Australian Cricket Art Prize in 2011 for the painting “Cricket at Kandahar”. The Oakhill Grammer School Art Prize in 2013 as well as being selected as a semi-finalist for the prestigious Doug Moran Portrait Prize. Complex and contradictory, Rolella’s recent abstract paintings seek to expose a delicate equilibrium between a sense of balance and visual calm and the tumult of painterly texture and surface tension. The play of light at the waters edge…

SOFIA AREAL  (Lisbon, 1960)

Begins her studies 1979 at the Hertfordshire College of Art and Design in St Albans, UK. In Portugal she studied etching and painting at Ar.Co. (Art and Visual Communication Center).

Her first group exhibition was in 1982 at the 1ª Mostra de Artes in Lagos, Portugal and her first solo show was in 1990 at Galeria Alda Cortez, Lisbon. Since then, Sofia has exhibited in various countries individually and collectively. She had a retrospective exhibition covering the last 10 years of her career in 2011 at the Galeria da Cordoaria Nacional the exhibition was accompanied by a book published by Babel, with texts of among others: Jorge Silva Melo and Professor Luís Campos e Cunha. In 2012 Areal illustrates the literary magazine published by Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, Colóquio Letras. In 2013 launches a book together with Harvard Professor, Allan Hobson – “ Creativity”. Since 2013, Areal has started an international exhibition program, in Macau – Orient Foundation 2014, Oslo – Embassy Art Space 2015 and Dublin in 2016. In the same year a film by Jorge Silva Melo, “Sofia Areal: Um Gabinete Anti-Dor” premiers. In 2017 Areal continues a series of exhibitions, started in 2016 in quARTel das Artes in Abrantes, about her own private collection in Lagos Cultural Centre, followed by MUDAS. Contemporary Art Museum of Madeira and Centro Cultural Raiano – a series, which will continue in 2019. In the same year Areal will have an exhibition in the Portuguese Cultural Centre in Luxembourg. In 2017-2018 creates a tiles panel is together with a group of artists and 3 individual ones, all with Ratton Gallery in Lisbon.

Great example of a short artist biography

A short bio is a good idea for any artist whether you want to present your skills for a solo exhibition for fine art or just for a social media platform such as for an Instagram profile.

Rita Ackermann Biography

Born : Budapest, Hungary, 1968

Education :

The New York Studio School of Painting, Drawing and Sculpture (Hanes Foundation), New York NY, 1992 – 1993 Academy of Fine Arts, Budapest, Hungary, 1989 – 1992

Resides: Lives and works in New York NY

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2019 Hauser & Wirth, ‘Rita Ackermann. Brother and Sister’, Zürich, Switzerland

2018 La Triennale di Milano, ‘Rita Ackermann. Movements as Monuments’, Milan, Italy VIEWING ROOM, Marlborough Contemporary, ‘Rita Ackermann and Carol Rama: Body Matters’, New York NY

How to write an artist biography using a template

You can follow this simple template if you want to skip the sticky note exercise from the previous steps.

As I do not like referring to myself in the third person I will move away from your typical artist biography examples and make it a little more personable.

“ My name is [Insert your name], I was born in [insert town/city/country] in [year]. My first experiences as an artist was when [insert time period in life or formative experience].

My influences were [insert influences].

It was here that I realized that I wanted to pursue my career in this field.

I went on to study [insert course and institution] where I earned my qualifications in [insert field of study].

It was here that I furthered expanded on my knowledge in [insert fields of interest], where I [insert key achievements].

I work primarily in [insert mediums] and I currently work from [insert location] and [any other locations of interest]. “

Self taught artist bio sample

For self taught artists, your artist bio will be the same as all the examples but without listing any formal qualifications. Using the template above, I have modified it to make it suitable for self taught artists.

The focus for a self taught artist is to focus on your practical experience and what you did in lieu of formal training.

I believe that being an artist is something that one is born to do an not learned at school, I went on to study through practical experience, learning through trial and error and self learning studying the works of [insert influences] as my teachers .

50 word artist bio example

Describe yourself in 50 words or less. This is much harder to do than you may think.

If you must provide an artist biography in 50 words or less then focus on the key information and remove the filler words that we tend to use when describing ourselves and our achievements.

When creating a 50 words or less artist bio, use simple headings and bullet points and stick to the point.

“ My name is [Insert your name]. Born in [insert town/city/country] in [year].

I work primarily in [insert main medium]

My influences are [insert influences].

I obtained a [insert qualification] from [institution].

(I am represented by [insert gallery]) or (I have exhibited in [insert shows]) or (I have won [insert main prizes])

I currently work from [insert location] and [any other locations of interest]. “

Still struggling to write an Artist Bio?

I found this cool site, it generates artist statements and biographies. All you need to do is click “Generate Some Bollocks” .

First Draft of an artist biography

Have someone write the outline for you.

If you find it hard to write about yourself, find someone you trust and hand over your sticky notes and ask them to write the artist biography for you using the templates as a guide.

You will find that someone who knows you well will remember to add other information about you that you may have forgotten to include or too embarrassed to include.

Once they have a draft, read through it out loud with them and see if it makes sense and look at areas for improvement.

My English is not good, what do I do?

If your english is not as good as you like, that is totally fine. If anything it is an advantage as you can now have a bilingual artist bio.

You can have your artist bio written in your native language for your native audience and then ask someone you trust to translate it to English or pay a small fee on Upwork or Freelancer to translate your artist biography for you.

If you do not want to pay someone, you can give Google Translate a try and see how that comes up. Speaking from experience when I tried to translate text from English to Italian, be careful as this does not always give the best results.

Review and review again

Again, with anything your write you should review it yourself and then ask someone you trust to review it again for you.

Check for grammar and spelling.

Common mistakes in artist biographies

Contrary to my advice about writing in the first person, some say that your artist biography should be written in the third person to give the impression that it was written by someone else and that it sounds more authoritative.

Unless your artist biography was actually written by a third person I disagree with this advice. We know you wrote this so why pretend it wasn’t.

Secondly, if you are an unknown and not professionally represented, most people in the industry will know you bring little authority with you. That’s the sad truth.

The next mistake is to fail to tell an interesting story about your journey as an artist. Note down any gaps in your career and explain why, sometimes the gaps are as interesting as the art journey itself.

Taking care of children, sick family, going to war, being in accident can all be used as part of your narrative and drawn on for inspiration.

Think of all the books you read that you could not put down, they told an interesting story you could relate to and the characters were usually likeable and not pretentious.

Which leads to the next mistake, do not big note yourself or embellish your achievements. Do not lie about your achievements. With the internet available to most people on their phones, most facts can be easily verified.

The next mistake is to write an artist statement when an artist biography was requested.

Other mistakes when writing an artist bio are spelling mistakes grammar mistakes, not proofreading your draft, and the final mistake artists make when writing their artist biography is forgetting to tell the why they became an artist.

How to write an Artist Bio – Wrap up!

As I mentioned earlier, writing an artist bio is a bit like a resume but it’s all part of the art business. It can feel cold, impersonal and detached. This is the reason why I prefer an Artist Profile instead.

I would format the artist profile to include the initial hook paragraphs to get your readers interested in knowing more.

I would then follow the lead from the examples provided and include information that you would usually see in an artist biography.

Keep it up to date

Remember, as artists we are always changing and progressing. This means whether you are using an Artist Biography, Artists Statement or Artist Profile, these should be updated to reflect where you are in life and as an artist at that point in time.

It should change as you change. Keep some of the older information in there so your reader can follow your career and influences progressions.

These tell a story about you and remember there is no such thing as a perfect artist bio or artists cv. You just want to convey enough about yourself for potential clients and for a fellow artist.

Rewrite and Review

Each time you make an update, review what you wrote and do not be afraid to re-write it all if it no longer applies to who you are today.

Get someone to proofread your artist bio and take on any constructive criticism.

Good luck! If you have any of your own artist biographies that you would like linked to this article, please send through a message on the contact-me page.

If it is suitable, I will include it in the list of Artist Biography Examples.

Joseph Colella (Joe Colella) is an Editor and Writer at WastedTalentInc. As a frustrated artist with over 40 years experience making art (who moonlights as a certified Business Analyst with over 20 years of experience in tech).

While Joseph holds a Diploma in Information Technology, in true wasted talent fashion he spent years applying for various Art degrees; from the Accademia di Belle Arti (Napoli), to failing to get into the Bachelor of Arts (Fine Arts) at the University of Western Sydney.

While he jokes about his failures at gaining formal art qualifications, as a self-taught artist he has had a fruitful career in business, technology and the arts making Art his full time source of income from the age of 18 until 25.

His goal is to attend the Julian Ashton School of Art at The Rocks Sydney when he retires from full time work. Joseph’s art has been sold to private collectors all over the world from the USA, Europe and Australasia.

He is a trusted source for reliable art advice and tutorials to copyright/fair use advice and is committed to helping his readers make informed decisions about making them a better artist.

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Artist Bios 101: Here’s How To Write An Amazing Artist Profile

Wondering what makes an unforgettable artist bio? Follow our how-to guide to learning everything about writing an artist bio that will make people remember you! (160 characters)

Your artist bio is your chance to really grab the interest of potential clients and make them understand what it is about your art that’s different from the rest. It can be a powerful art marketing tool, so you want to make sure you take the time to craft an amazing artist profile that does your incredible artwork justice!

When building online portfolios, many artists (and even brands) overlook the importance of the about-me page . But, no matter what kind of art you make, visitors to your website are highly likely to click it within a little while of landing on your page. Think of your artist bio as your chance to craft the lens that they’ll view your work through.

Don’t have an artist portfolio website just yet? Your About the Artist page will live on your online portfolio, of course, so it’s a good idea to have one up and running before you start crafting that artist profile. Make sure to choose a website builder that lets you easily add custom pages, so that you can add an artist bio page and place it wherever you want in your website’s menu (Hint: you should put it somewhere that’s easy to find, so your visitors don’t have to look for it).

Choose an online portfolio with beautiful website templates that allow you to make easy, fast tweaks to your artist profile whenever you want—no code required! The best website builders will have lots of typography options built right in, so that you can really customize the look of that About the Artist page without having to mess around with importing fonts.

Okay, you have some ideas for how to build your artist bio into your portfolio website, but what makes a really strong artist profile in the first place? What should you include, and what is better left out? Where do you start?

Craft the Perfect Opening Sentence

A short artist bio is usually better than a lengthy one. Check out some short artist bio examples and some longer ones, and notice which tend to stick in your mind more. (Not sure where to find them? Check out the online portfolios of other artists you respect to find some good artist bio examples.) Attention spans are limited online, so if you want to get your point across and make sure your reader goes through your whole artist profile, it’s best to keep things concise. That means every sentence matters.

The opening sentence is important because that’s where the reader gets hooked. This sentence should be able to stand alone, communicating who you are and something unique about the kind of art you make. Check out some successful artist bio samples online; a tried-and-true method is to use the first sentence to state the artist’s name as well as their preferred medium or the style of their art.

Remember, your artist profile is also a chance to improve the SEO ranking of your portfolio website. Consider the kinds of keywords that people who might buy your art would search for. Are you an oil painter ? Then you should use that keyword early in your artist bio, since search engines will rank that higher than if you mention it at the very end of your artist bio.

The same goes for subject matter: if you usually photograph landscapes in a certain region, you should make sure that first sentence includes something like “Pacific Northwest landscape photographer,” which will let your reader know what it is that you do—but will also be SEO-friendly. If you’re confused about where to start with search engine optimization, no worries. Our guide will answer a ton of your questions and help you make your portfolio website super SEO-friendly.

Know Your Audience

Another thing you’ll see across the best artist profile samples is that they’re speaking to a well-defined audience. Think about who you hope will see your website, and who you’re hoping will take the next step and want to work with you or buy your art.

If you’re selling your work directly to consumers on your portfolio website, consider writing an artist bio that the average person who doesn’t have a background in art would be able to understand. You definitely don’t want to alienate people with too much art industry jargon in that artist profile! It’ll fly over their heads and, worst of all, it will make them feel less comfortable buying from you.

Look up some artist profile examples from artists in your field, and try to pick out some descriptive words that you like, that explain your art, and that are understandable to laypeople. A good test to make sure that you’re writing a clearly understandable artist bio is to have a non-artist friend read it over tell you if anything stands out as too technical. You also want to sound like yourself and convey a bit of personality, so try to maintain your own voice as you write.

An exception to this is if your target audience is actually a technical crowd, such as art gallery owners. If your main goal with your portfolio website is to get noticed by galleries , then you can get away with language that would be understood by people in your industry. There’s no one-size-fits-all “meet the artist” template; it’s super important to know your audience and write your artist bio with them in mind.

Describe Your Work

Now that you know what kind of language is appropriate for your artist profile, you can start describing the work that you do. Here you can describe a bit about the style that your artwork fits into, the kinds of techniques you use, and interesting tidbits about your process.

Your goal should be to give the reader the understanding that there’s something unique about you and your work (because there is!). Take a bit of time to really think about what defines and characterizes your art. Again, checking out other artist profile examples is a good way to get the creative juices flowing and come up with some effective vocabulary that you can use yourself.

You should also help the reader understand the message of your work, or what it is that you’re communicating through your chosen medium. This can be really helpful in giving people a framework to understand your art, and can make clicking through your online profile much more enjoyable.

Get Personal

You don’t have to share everything about yourself, but plenty of good artist website examples do share a little bit of personal information about the artist. This info should still serve the main purpose of helping readers understand what is different about your art and what you are trying to convey through it, but it’s always easier to connect to a piece with a little bit of personal information.

For example, if you spent some studying or practicing in a cool art city and that experience impacts your work today, that would be a cool piece of information to share in an artist profile. You definitely don’t need to share all of your hobbies and interests, but anything that helps contextualize your art and your purpose in making it will help people connect to your art in a deeper way.

Provide A Visual

If you look up visual artist bio samples you’ll probably see that many of them include a little visual along with the text. Having a visual reference of one of your pieces on the same page as your artist profile lets readers see your philosophy in practice without having to navigate away to a gallery on your website. Make sure to choose a piece that exemplifies the things you talked about in your bio!

Even the best artist bios need to be revised as you develop in your career. Try to review your About the Artist page regularly—every six months, at a minimum—to make sure that it’s up-to-date. Maybe you’ve snagged some art contest wins or written a stylish new case study for a recent design piece. That’s the kind of info you should definitely keep your artist profile updated with!

While you’re at it, it’s a good idea to update the actual content of your online portfolio as well. Keep your artist bio and the work in your portfolio as fresh as possible—that gives people good reason to keep checking back to stay on top of what you’re up to. (Need some more tips on curating your portfolio? Check out our guide to picking images for your website .)

Want a head-turning art portfolio website? Curate your work and design your website exactly the way you want it. Start your free trial with Format today!

Marketing your art business and landing new clients isn’t always easy, but an awesome, informative artist bio can really help your portfolio stand out and make your name stick in people’s minds. Take the time to write a good one!

Looking for more writing tips for artists? How To Write Product Descriptions That Really Sell Write a Better Artist Grant Application in 15 Steps Here’s How to Write An Amazing Instagram Bio in 10 Minutes

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July 6, 2020 By Dave Nevue

How To Write An Artist Biography (Complete Guide)

Your Artist Biography Is A Key Component Of Selling Yourself As An Artist

The art of the biography is a tricky one.

From Marie de Pizan’s Book of the City of Ladies to Giorgio Vasari’s Lives of the Artists to James Boswell’s Life of Samuel Johnson , classical biographies were often incredibly lengthy texts about great men and women.

Some biographies prefer to mythologize and lionize their subjects, while others prefer to strip that veneer away and peer at the raw underbelly of what made that person who they were – and why.

This can be a key component of selling yourself as an artist.

When we think of Raphael, we think of the Bad Boy of the Renaissance – in part thanks to Vasari’s biography.

By contrast, when we think of Van Gogh, we think of one of the archetypes of the Tragic Starving Artist – in part because of all the biographies that continue that narrative.

It may not have worked for Van Gogh in life, but ever since his death, his mythologized biography has been a big factor in driving all manner of licensed products based on his work.

You may want Van Gogh’s fame and fortune, but would prefer not to enjoy it posthumously like him, which is why crafting an effective online artist biography is so important.

Avoid Manufactured Speech

What is an artist biography.

An Artist Biography describes an artist’s life, journey, vision, mission, and artistic style.

Why write an artist biography?

An artist’s bio is often the first piece of information available to readers and collectors, and as such, it offers you a chance to frame their practice and give collectors a reason to want to learn more. Bios also drive search engine optimization (SEO). (Source:  Artsy )

Your goal in writing an artist biography for your  artist blog  is to connect you with your reader, build their trust, and connect them with your artwork. 

Accomplishing this goal will help you to convert your readers into art collectors.

There are many benefits to  selling your art online .

On top of the list is the ability to share your artwork with people around the world.

However, it does take more than just uploading images of your art online to land a sale.

You have to write content that connects you with your following, and an artist bio is one way to do just that.

Where To Display Your Artist Biography

The most commonplace for artist biographies are in the about section of your artist blog, website, and social media accounts.

About Us Page  – Your  artist website and blog  should include an “about us” page that incorporates a biography and artist statement .

If you are the only artist for the website, the title of the page should be “About  YOUR NAME .”

Your biography will provide your readers with an understanding of the style of art that you create, your motivation, and your values.

Buyers want to know about the artists that they are purchasing from. 

Providing information about you and your career will build trust with the readers and will generate loyal customers.

Many social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest have a section dedicated to your bio. Take advantage of this real estate.

What Should An Artist Biography Include

Keep your bio short and to the point. 

People do not want to spend the time to read a novel. They want to get an idea of who you are as a person and artist.

What should be in your artist bio:

• A short description of your journey.
• A short description of your vision and mission.
• What message you are trying to say with your artwork, your artistic philosophy.
• Describe your artistic style and techniques.
• Any education or training relating to art.
• List all the awards you have received.
• Who are your influencers, and what motivates you to create art?

How to Write An Artist Biography Step by Step

Here are some steps that will help you to write your bio.

• Write your biography in the third person, keep it short and to the point. Respect your reader’s time. They want to get to know about you as an artist. They do not need a life story. Include your influences, education if any, when you started, what you would like to accomplish with your art, and your philosophy.
• Write several different biographies. Have someone proofread what you have written. Reread what you have. Take the best parts of each bio that you wrote and rewrite it. You will find that the more that you write it, the smoother it will sound. Remove any words that are not necessary. You want to remove any irrelevant content to make your biography short and to the point.
• Ask several people who know you well to read your final draft. Ask them if it represents you as a person and an artist. Make any necessary adjustments.
• Have someone proofread your work one more time and make any necessary changes.

Choose a Narrative and Tone

Some biographies are serious blow-by-blow accounts of major people’s lives with the history of the time thrown in.

Others – such as Tina Fey’s autobiography Bossypants – are hilarious collections of stories laced with humor and fun.

This is your story, so you have to decide how you want to tell it – and, indeed, what to tell.

Needless to say, your biography isn’t going to include every little detail of your life.

If you have been working in the arts for any length of time, it probably won’t include every gig you’ve done or piece of art you’ve made and shown, either.

You thus need to be selective.

What you choose to leave out can shape your biography just as much as what you choose to leave in.

The place in which you are posting can also have a huge impact on your tone.

A more professional setting, such as LinkedIn or a professional artists’ site, requires an aura of professionalism.

On the other hand, if you are posting to your own website or social media, humor can be a big help.

This is especially true if you’re an indie author or musician and don’t have the same marketing engine as those signed by major labels or publishing houses.

Know Your Audience

Of course, the question over humor or professionalism belies a bigger issue, one of the audience.

A jokey tone may not work in the professional sphere, but it doesn’t work for a brooding artist, either.

Think of how differently we imagine Van Gogh and Dali. Besides the big differences in their art, the former is the archetype for brooding starving artists, and the latter is a testament to flamboyance.

You wouldn’t expect Van Gogh to take to Twitter and start LOL-ing away at the latest pop culture gossip, and you wouldn’t expect Dali to post long brooding blogs.

What’s more, you wouldn’t expect either of them to be the kind of neatly brushed, combed, trimmed, and suited individuals than corporate figures tend to prefer.

While positivity tends to sell more than negativity, overdoing it in the former case can cause you to appear false and phony, putting people off and being just as detrimental as the latter.

When crafting your artist biography, knowing your audience is just as important as knowing yourself.

None of the aforementioned approaches is wrong, but they may be wrong for an audience that isn’t receptive to that kind of persona.

Include Pertinent Information

Of course, it won’t matter how good of an artist you are or how good of a narrative you weave in your bio if nobody knows how to contact you.

That’s why you always need to make sure that you include pertinent information such as your name, roughly how long you’ve been working, where you are based, and at least a couple means of contacting you.

This being the social media age, at least one of those means should likely be a social media or email account.

For obvious reasons, you probably don’t want to give out your home phone number, so get a professional line.

The same goes for your email. [email protected] or [email protected] might be fun casual emails, but they’re hardly what a professional email address looks like.

Artists, like anyone else, need to show off their credentials.

You worked hard and probably paid a lot (too much!) for that MFA or any other art training and degree, so if and “When You’ve Got It, Flaunt It!” If a company is looking to hire for a professional job, an MFA or other art training or experience can make a big difference in their hiring process.

The same is true of experience and past work, so you’ll definitely want to feature an up-to-date portfolio of your best work.

Finally, professors often list ongoing current projects on their profile site on their university page, and you’d be wise to do the same.

This can be a great way of giving potential buyers an idea of past and present exhibitions, concerts, shows, and interests, and also show them where you’re interested in heading artistically.

Don’t Upload Your First Draft

There are plenty of stories of songs’ first drafts being awful, funny, or both.

However, you only get one shot at making a positive first impression with whoever ends up reading your artist’s biography.

As such, you want to make sure that it is crisp, clean, and absolutely typo free. (Nothing says “unprofessional” like publishing a biography of your own life with “professional” spelled incorrectly!)

First drafts are rough, raw, and, more often than not, way worse than the final product, so take your time and rework your biography until you’re sure you have something that’s clean, polished, and as close to perfect as you’re going to get.

Lead with a Bang

The start of your autobiography doesn’t have to promise “The best of times” and “The worst of times,” or have an equally-pithy opening.

That said, to riff on another Dickens novel, David Copperfield (itself a loose attempt at autobiography in fiction form) whether or not prove to be the hero of your artistic story, you need to start with something big.

David Copperfield leads with a bang – or, in this case, a birth, as by the second sentence David already tells us he was born at midnight as “the clock began to strike, and I began to cry, simultaneously.”

You don’t need that level of Dickensian detail and drama, but you also don’t want to bore your readers with paragraphs of dull drudgery before getting to the good stuff.

Even if the really great part of your career is later on chronologically, at least tease it in the first paragraph.

Be creative, and entice the reader with a taste of bigger, better things that lie further on in your artistic story.

Give the reader a reason to keep reading.

If Dickens could hold readers’ attention for years at a time in a single periodically-published story, you should be able to find some way of grabbing and keeping your readers for a few paragraphs at least.

Good writing is authentic writing. It doesn’t sound like it came from a computer, and it certainly doesn’t sound like it was spat out by some market-tested advertising agency.

You, thus, want to make sure you avoid clichés as best as possible and keep your voice authentic.

The late Christopher Hitchens used to tell his writing students, “If you can talk you can write.”

The same holds true for you. Use your own voice, and use it masterfully.

Even if you don’t think of yourself as much of a talker or writer, you nevertheless talk with close friends or family at least, so work off of that level of confidence and comfort.

Think of how you talk to them, and model that tone and approach when writing your bio.

Anecdotes and Examples

Did you know that F. Scott Fitzgerald met Edith Wharton while drunk ?

Or how a young Ernest Hemingway learned art and life with Gertrude Stein?

How about Dorothy Parker blew off the FBI’s questioning with some help from her overactive dog ?

Those aren’t the most professional of anecdotes, but everyone loves a good story, so why not share some of your own?

While they should be clean and professional, anecdotes can help people get a feeling for where you’re coming from as an artist and what you’re all “about.”

What’s more, examples of your work that flow from these anecdotes can make it – and you – seem all the more real.

Artist Biography Checklist

• Inspirations and influence
• Education if any
• Years being an artist
• Experience in your field
• Philosophy about art
• What you would like to accomplish as an artist
• Other things you like outside of art

During your career, you will be growing as an artist.

Every year or so, read your biography and add any valuable new information.

When you revise your biography, it is a good idea to update your photo as well.

This will also be an excellent time to update your photo on your social network sites and blog.

Artist Bio Example

I want to end this post with a visual artist biography sample.

Here is Lori McNee’s Artist Bio. This an artist bio example you will want to read and learn from.

Lori McNee is an internationally followed art blogger, and the owner of FineArtTips.com, She is an artist, author, social media influencer, brand ambassador, and keynote speaker. She has been featured in the The Wall Street Journal online, and named a #TwitterPowerhouse by The Huffington Post. Lori shares her online success secrets to artists, businesses, and organizations around the country. Lori writes for F+W Media publications including Artist’s Magazine, Artist’s & Graphic Designer’s Market, Photographer’s Market and her own title,“Fine Art Tips with Lori McNee: Painting Techniques & Professional Advice.“ Lori is a #SocialTV correspondent pioneer, tweeting red carpet events for Entertainment Tonight, The Insider, Access Hollywood, and Vanity Fair. Lori lives in the beautiful Rocky Mountains of Central Idaho, where she derives much of her inspiration. A native of California and reared in the southwest, Lori cultivated an interest in art and wildlife during her childhood. While her three children were young, Lori began an art career as a wildlife artist in the 1980s-90s. During this time she mentored with famed wildlife artists Robert Bateman, John Seerey-Lester, Carl Brenders, Vivi Crandall and Guy Coheleach. Lori illustrated for organizations such as Ducks Unlimited, The Nature Conservancy, the Wolf Education Research Center, various trout and duck stamps, and books. In 2000, Lori discovered plein air and still life painting. After studying with Robert Moore and Joe Anna Arnett, Lori made a shift from working with photographs to painting from life. Today, Lori’s broad spectrum of artwork includes poetic landscape, still life and encaustic wax paintings which often incorporate birds or other wildlife. Her paintings have been featured in numerous publications including Plein Air Magazine, Fine Art Connoisseur Southwest Art, Artists’ Magazine, American Art Collector, Western Art Collector. Lori is an Ambassador Artist for Royal Talens, Princeton Brush Company and Fredrix Artist Canvas. She is a certified Master Artist in Cobra Water-mixable Oil Paints, and is an exhibiting member of Oil Painters of America, the American Impressionist Society, and the Encaustic Art Institute, and serves the City of Ketchum, Idaho on the Ketchum Arts Commission. Lori also teaches 3-4 painting workshops each year, at home and abroad.

To learn more about Lori visit her website at Lori Mcnee Fine Art and Tips

Final Thoughts On How To Write An Artist Biography

It is easier for you to tell your story and the story behind your artwork in person.

You can answer questions and express your thoughts by the tone of your voice and your expressions.

Your artist Biography will help you to connect you with your potential buyers.

How to Write an Artist Biography Step by Step Overview:

• What is an artist’s biography?
• Where to display your artist biography and what should it include?
• How to write an effective bio step by step.

You might  also be interested in:

• How Artists Can Grow Their Art Business by Teaching Online
• Top 10 Nevue Fine Art Marketing Articles 2017
• Developing a Plan for your Art Blog
• How to Turn Potential Art Buyers into Loyal Collectors
• Ultimate Email Marketing Guide for Selling Art Online
• How To Write Well Written Art Descriptions
• How To Write A Photographer Artist Statement

About Dave Nevue

Dave Nevue is a Professional Pastel Wildlife Artist and the founder and CEO of Nevue Fine Art Marketing. He also authored the eBook The Productive Artist How to Live Your Dreams, and provides courses on art marketing at Nevue Fine Art Marketing Courses.

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The Gallery’s Guide to Writing Good Artist Bios

Including artist bios on your gallery’s website is an excellent way to engage readers and collectors, and to help you frame your gallery’s artistic focus and position the artists you represent. A good artist bio will inspire collectors to want to find out more about the artists and their work and lead them to keep browsing the artist’s works on your website. See the artist bios as your artists’ business cards – you want them to stand out, to provide all the essential information, and to convince collectors to become interested and, eventually, to reach out and buy works. Read on to discover how to write a stellar artist bio thanks to our 10 tips.

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 120 words

The bio should be between 80 and 140 words. An ideal artist bio is 120 words. Research at museums has shown that visitors lose interest in reading wall labels accompanying art works after 150 words. That’s why it’s better to limit your word count to around 120 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 uses and the artistic style. Give examples of the artist’s key works that clearly elucidate these qualities.

7. Describe the main themes

Describe the main themes which the artist depicts in the work. What are the subjects and issues that inspire the themes in the artist’s pieces?

8. Position the artist in art history

Briefly reflect on the artist’s position in art history. What makes this artist important, what impact does he or she have on the history of art, which artists have influenced this artist and in what way has the artist redefined a certain medium or artistic technique?

9. Place the artist in his/her specific context

Position the artist in his or her cultural, political, social or technological context. Consider which events and which influences from the artist’s background and everyday life influence the way they work, and the art they produce.

10. Add a relevant quote

If you can find a short, relevant quote from the artist which supports the above-mentioned points, it can be a nice touch to add this to the bio in order to make it stand out more as an engaging, original piece.

Follow our ‘Gallery’s Guide’ series for more useful tips and strategies to improve your gallery’s online presence and business.

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How to Write an Artist Bio: The Fundamentals of Your Artistic Identity

September 22, 2020 September 23, 2020 by Kaity

Part of being an artist – or a creative in any field – is self-promotion. And if you are looking to make being an artist your full-time career, self-promotion is incredibly important. While your art will obviously speak for itself when seen, there are a few other things that you will need to help you draw your audience and customers in. And the best place to start? Writing a new artist bio.

What is an artist bio and why do I need one?

An artist bio is a short description of who you are as an artist. The bio is typically written in 3 rd  person and describes your inspiration, the mediums you work with, and any awards or qualifications you may have.

A bio is like a website’s About Me page, and if you have an online portfolio or store yourself, it can be used to introduce the audience to your work. You will also find that competition submissions, gallery exhibits, and press releases that you are involved in will typically ask you for an artist bio, so it’s good to have a little something prepared.

What’s the difference between an artist bio, resume and statement?

While creating a portfolio of your work, you’ve probably also come across phrases like an ‘artist resume’ and an ‘artist statement’ – both of which are different to your bio, so it’s important to ensure you’ve got all three.

An  artist resume  will go into depth about your education, jobs, and awards in bullet point form – just like a typical job resume. Your artist bio will essentially be your resume in long-form, but only highlighting the significant areas that are relevant to your art and you as an artist.

An  artist statement  is similar to the bio but can change depending on the situation: It may be more specific to elements of your work rather than your work as a whole. If you were exhibiting your work at a gallery for example, and each piece within the collection has a theme, your artist statement would talk about your creation of these pieces only, and the inspiration for the specific pieces.

An artist bio will talk about you, your inspiration, and your achievements as a whole.

How to write an artist bio and what to include

Similar to writing a resume, it can feel a bit awkward or boastful writing an artist bio, but it’s really important to show off your confidence and belief in your work.

To help get the balance right, ask yourself the questions below. Find links between the life-based and art-based answers, then form these into material for your bio. For example, you may find that you were born and raised in the city, but love to escape to the countryside, which is why your art is more rural and nature-inspired.

• Where were you born? Where are you live?
• What do you do for work?
• What did you study at school? University?
• When were you first introduced to art? By whom?
• What obstacles and challenges have you faced in life?
• What is your art about? What themes are present?
• What is unique about your techniques and work?
• What mediums do you work with?
• What is the first thing people notice about your pieces?
• What influences your art?
• Has your art changed over the years?

Asking yourself these questions and finding links may help you understand how to write your artist bio in a way that is personal to you. It might even uncover the roots of your influences, and why your art is the way it is – and this is the perfect information to write about.

You can also mention your biggest achievements in your field: Have you won any awards or contributed to any exhibits?

If you have space, add some upcoming ideas, so your audience can see your passion and enthusiasm to keep moving forward.

One thing to note:

You are an artist. Whether you are self-taught or qualified, have won awards and do this as a full-time career or just as a hobby. It’s important to remember to have confidence and not worry about trying to prove yourself against other artists when creating your bio. Your art and who you are is what’s important, and no matter how often you make art, or how much you earn from it, doesn’t change the fact you can call yourself an artist.

How long should my artist bio be?

You’ll find a lot of different answers to how long your bio needs to be. Some will advise it’s a whole page while others will say a few paragraphs or as short as possible.

If you aren’t certain, you could have several versions of your bio to suit different sites. For example, your profile on Contrado is perfect for a 100-word bio, while your About The Artist page on your own portfolio site could go into more detail and reach 600.

Truthfully, there’s no real right or wrong when it comes to how to write an artist bio and how long it should be, but it is good to keep it concise and let your art do the talking. You don’t want to overload your customers with information  about  your work when they could be looking  at  it instead.

If you’re still not sure what length to go for, take a look at some short and long artist bio samples and see which ones engage you the most.

Know Your Audience

How to write an artist bio will depend on the audience you’re working with. If you are selling your art and designs on different products at the market or your website, it’s likely your customers aren’t just other artists, so make sure you don’t get too technical. Have someone with no art background read over your bio to see if they can still understand what you do, and what you’re trying to portray through your art.

Keep your tone of voice professional, but also personal: You want your personality, and the personality of your art to come through in everything you put out to the world – and that includes your written word.

Additional Tips:

• Search Engine Optimization.  When thinking about how to write an artist bio, think about SEO too. Using search terms that are relevant to your niche will enhance your chances of being picked up by new customers on search engines.
• Make sure you spell-check.  There’s nothing worse for self-promotion than a piece of work scattered with spelling errors and poor grammar.
• Use ‘since 2009’, rather than ‘for 11 years.’  This way you don’t need to update your bio everywhere it’s posted each year.
• Start big, go small . If you’re worried about fitting everything into a word count, try writing down all your ideas and the information you want to include first. Then, work from there to highlight the best parts and the not-so-important areas. It’s easier to reduce words than trying to find more to add.

While it seems like a lot to remember, nobody can really tell you exactly how to write an artist bio, but these tips should help you along the way. Just remember to write with passion about your journey as an artist so far, and where you want to go next.

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Writing An Artist Bio: The Ultimate Guide for Fine Artists

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As a visual artist, you may not consider yourself a writer, and that’s OK.

But your Artist Bio is an important piece of writing you do need to nail down.

You will need it for exhibition or gallery applications, artist websites, press releases, publicity materials, etc…

The good news is once you have it done and dusted, you won’t need to do it again!

At most, you will simply refine it over the years.

So read along, and let’s get your Bio done right…

Artist Statement and Artist Bio: What’s the difference?

The two powerful tools you can use to communicate the meaning and intentions behind your art to your audience are your artist statement and artist bio.

Your artist statement is a great way to share your creative process, inspiration, and philosophy with your audience. It’s like a manifesto for your art, where you can dive deep into what drives you to create and what you hope to achieve through your work.

On the other hand, your artist bio is like a snapshot of your artistic journey so far. It’s a potted history of your life as an artist, highlighting your achievements, experiences, and background. Your artist bio serves as an introduction to your work, and it helps your audience understand your perspective as an artist.

In other words, while your artist statement focuses on your art and medium, your artist bio is all about YOU as an artist.

When you introduce your art in your artist statement, it’s like saying, “Hey folks, check out my art!” But when it comes to your bio, you’re basically saying:

🙋‍♂️ “Hey folks, here’s a little bit about me!”

Important Considerations Before Crafting Your Artist Bio

We get it – talking about yourself can feel awkward, but the details about your passion, inspiration, and dreams are just as crucial as your artwork. People are naturally curious creatures, so it’s no surprise that viewers and readers want to know a bit about you. After all, your art is a reflection of who you are as a person and an artist.

There are a few things you might want to consider before you get started with your artist bio. Let’s go through them together!

✅  It’s OK to show a glimpse of your personality.

Starting off your artist bio with a hook is crucial to grabbing your readers’ attention.

A little bit of humor can go a long way in reeling them in and warming them up to both you and your art. So why not give it a shot and inject some personality into your bio?

✅  Your artist bio should not be too corporate—it’s not a CV or a resume.

When it comes to crafting your artist bio, it can be tempting to list out every single accomplishment and accolade you’ve received throughout your career.

But most of the time, less is often more.

Instead of overwhelming your readers with a laundry list of accomplishments, it’s important to be selective and choose only the most noteworthy and relevant highlights of your career. This will not only make your bio more concise and easier to read, but it will also give your readers a better sense of who you are as an artist.

Crafting Your Artist Bio: Tips and Tricks for Fine Artists

Okay, it’s time to roll up our sleeves and get started on writing that artist bio.

To help you out, we’ve gathered some handy tips and tricks that will make the process easier and more effective.

✅  Write in the third person (e.g., he, she, his, hers, they)

Have you ever considered what someone else might write about you if given the task of crafting your bio?

It may seem like a strange exercise, but putting yourself in someone else’s shoes and imagining what they might say about you can be an incredibly helpful tool in crafting your own bio.

This exercise can help you identify the most important aspects of your career and artistry from an outsider’s perspective, as well as highlight any strengths or unique qualities that may not have been immediately apparent to you.

So, what might someone else write about you? Perhaps they would focus on your bold use of color or your ability to create intricate and detailed works of art.

Maybe they would highlight your commitment to environmentalism and the use of sustainable materials in your artwork. Or perhaps they would focus on your professional accomplishments and exhibitions.

Regardless of what they might say, the exercise of imagining someone else’s perspective can help you gain clarity and insight into your own career and artistic identity.

Use these insights to inform your own bio and make it truly stand out to potential clients and fans.

✅  Keep it concise and straight to the point.

As a fine artist, you want your artist bio to leave a lasting impression on your readers – but you don’t want to bore them with a lengthy essay. That’s why it’s important to use simple and direct sentences that will keep your readers engaged and interested in what you have to say.

By using concise language and avoiding complex sentence structures, you can make your bio easy to read and understand. This will not only help to hold your reader’s attention, but it will also give them a better understanding of who you are as an artist and what you have to offer.

So, the next time you sit down to write your artist bio, remember to keep it simple and direct. Your readers will thank you for it. 😉

✅  Be creative.

Your creativity is your greatest asset – and that should extend to your artist bio as well. While it can be tempting to stick to a standard format or template, your bio is an opportunity to showcase your unique personality and artistic style.

So, don’t be afraid to get creative with your bio!

Your bio can be a combination of

➡️ where you came from

➡️ where you went to school

➡️ your inspirations

➡️ your artistic process and philosophy

➡️ your interests

➡️ and your accomplishments as a human being.

All of these add more dimension to your narrative. You can tackle different angles, but make sure that the subject is always your artistic development.

But let’s be real, how can you make your bio stand out and tell a compelling story?

One way is to use timelines and narrative progression to organize your thoughts and show your artistic journey in a clear and coherent manner. Break down your career highlights into different time periods, so readers can see how your work has evolved over time and how you have grown as an artist.

To get started, make sure your timelines are easy to follow. Use bullet points or subheadings to separate different phases of your career and highlight your key achievements and milestones from each era.

And don’t forget about the importance of narrative progression – by framing your career journey as a progression from past to present , you can help readers understand how each phase of your career has influenced the next.

With these tips in mind, you can create a killer artist bio that showcases your artistic development and highlights the unique qualities that make you a standout in your field.

Should Previous Non-Art Related Degrees and Jobs Be Included in an Artist Bio?

The answer is simple – yes, you may include them! Your bio is the perfect place to share your unique journey as an artist.

The trick to including non-art-related experiences in your bio is to connect them with your current artistic career . How did those experiences shape your perspective and inspire your work? For instance, if you worked in the field of child welfare, how did that experience influence your artistic vision?

Including non-art-related experiences can make you a more interesting artist and give viewers a deeper understanding of who you are as a person. It’s not just about your art degree but about the experiences that make you who you are today.

When writing your bio, don’t keep your previous jobs and degrees separate from your artistic career. Integrate them into your story and tell your audience how they have impacted your artistic process.

What’s the Perfect Length for Your Artist Bio?

If you have been wondering how long your biography should be, we’ve got you covered!

Here are some pointers to help you decide on the length of your artist bio:

✅ Your biography can be as short as a few paragraphs or as long as two to three or four pages. It really depends on how much information you want to include.

✅ If you want to keep it short and sweet, a brief summary or biographical statement at the back of your portfolio or on your website is perfectly fine. This gives a quick overview of your background and accomplishments.

✅ If you want to provide more detail, an extensive biography can be very helpful and effective in making sales. This can be from three to seven pages long, written in the third person, and laid out in a magazine-style format. This type of bio is ideal for artists who want to give collectors a more in-depth look at their life and career.

✅ Your biography is a document that can evolve over time and can grow or shrink in length. Keep it up to date with your latest achievements.

✅ Sharing your background, life, and career development can help establish additional credibility for you as an artist. Potential buyers find it fascinating, and it creates a deeper connection with them.

✅ You can combine your short bio with elements of your artist statement to weave together your work and life. This can make your bio a little lengthier, but it gives readers a more holistic view of your artistic vision and process.

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer to how long your artist bio should be. Consider your goals and the level of detail you want to share, and use that as a guide when crafting your biography.

Oops! Don’t Make These Mistakes When Writing Your Artist Bio

Did you make these mistakes when writing your artist bio? Don’t worry—it’s not too late to fix them! Let’s take a look at some of the most common pitfalls to avoid when crafting your artist bio.

✅  Poor Writing

When it comes to your artist bio, it’s crucial to make sure it’s well-written and polished. You don’t want any errors or awkward sentences to distract your audience from your amazing work.

So, take the time to proofread it multiple times and make sure it’s free of any mistakes. Even small writing errors can give off an unprofessional impression to your readers.

✅  Sharing too much information

While it can be tempting to include every detail of your life, it’s best to stick to information that is relevant to your artistic identity. Avoid sharing too much information about your personal life or unrelated accomplishments and instead focus on highlighting your artistic achievements and aspirations.

✅  Lack of personality

Let your artist bio be a reflection of your one-of-a-kind personality and style. Avoid using generic terms and concepts that make you sound like a robot. Instead, infuse your bio with your unique voice and perspective on life to make it stand out.

Ready to share your Artist Bio with the world? Here are a few things you should do first

So, you’ve written your artist bio, and you’re eager to share it with the world. But before you hit that publish button, there are a few crucial steps you should take to make sure your bio is polished and ready to impress.

✅  Read, reread, and proofread

Have you read your artist bio out loud yet? This is a crucial step in making sure that your bio sounds both natural and professional while still being approachable to your audience.

Now, chances are, your first draft is going to need a lot of trimming down. That’s why it’s important to reread it multiple times and make changes to any areas that need improvement.

And don’t forget to ask a friend to proofread it for you as well. They can give you valuable feedback on how to make it look and sound even better. Trust us, it’s always helpful to have a fresh set of eyes review your work!

✅  Have a fellow artist review your artist bio—hear that second opinion 😉

It’s always a good idea to have someone else take a look at your artist bio before sharing it with the world. And who better to turn to than a fellow artist? They can give you honest and objective feedback that can help you refine your message and make sure that your bio truly reflects your identity as an artist and your body of work.

So, if you have an artist friend who’s willing to take a look, don’t hesitate to send them a copy of your bio and ask for their thoughts. Ask them what they loved about it and what could be improved. Their insights could help clarify your message and make your bio even more effective.

How Often Should You Update Your Artist Bio?

Well, the answer is pretty straightforward – as often as you need to!

Your artist bio is an important tool for introducing yourself to potential buyers, galleries, and employers, so it should be kept up to date as your career progresses.

Revisiting your biography every year is a great way to ensure it still accurately represents your current work and achievements. As you continue to create new pieces and gain recognition, you’ll want to make sure your biography is showcasing your latest and greatest.

It’s easy to fall into the trap of using an outdated biography. You may have created a biography early on in your career, and it may not be relevant anymore. That’s okay! Take some time to review and update it, and make sure it reflects your current work and accomplishments.

Your artist bio is a BIG deal.

And the good news is that once you have it ready, you feel a BIG relief.

It’s what can set you apart from the rest and help you connect with your audience. So, when you sit down to write it, take your time and put in the effort to craft something that really reflects who you are as an artist.

Your bio can add that extra layer of interest and intrigue to your art, so make it count!

Want one on one help with your bio? If you would like to have word-by-word artist bio templates, your own bio revised and edited by a professional art writer, then consider applying to our flagship program – the  Professional Artist Accelerator .

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HOW TO WRITE A GREAT BIO FOR YOUR ARTIST PROFILE

• First Impression: It's often the first thing people read about you.
• Connection Tool: Helps audiences and clients relate to you and your work.
• Professional Summary: Showcases your artistic journey and achievements.

Key Components of an Artist Bio

1. artist profile introduction: crafting a compelling opening, name and artistic discipline.

• Full Name: Start with your full name. If you have an artistic pseudonym, include it, but ensure your real name is also present for professional transparency.
• Artistic Field: Clearly state your primary artistic field or specialty. For example, are you a painter, sculptor, digital artist, photographer, etc.?

Unique Selling Point (USP)

• Defining Characteristics: What makes your art stand out? Perhaps it's your use of color, thematic focus, innovative techniques, or a unique blend of styles.
• Engaging Description: Use descriptive, emotive language to engage readers. Instead of saying, "I paint landscapes," try, "I capture the untamed beauty of the natural world through vibrant landscapes."
• Connection to Audience: Think about what aspect of your work might resonate most with your audience. Is it the subject matter, your artistic process, or the emotions your work evokes?

Tips for SEO Optimization

• Keywords: Use keywords that potential clients or art enthusiasts might search for. If you're a "contemporary landscape painter in New York," make sure these keywords are naturally integrated.

2. Artistic Background and Education: Key Elements for a Rich Narrative

Artistic journey.

• Start of Your Journey: Describe how and when your interest in art began. This could be an early fascination with drawing, a pivotal moment that sparked your passion, or a gradual evolution into your art form.
• Development Over Time: Highlight key moments and experiences that have shaped your artistic path. This could include significant projects, personal challenges, or turning points in your career.

Education and Training

• Formal Education: If you've attended art school or university, mention this, including any majors or specializations.
• Workshops and Courses: Include any relevant workshops, online courses, or informal training that have contributed to your skills.
• Self-Taught Skills: If you're largely self-taught, emphasize this aspect. Discuss how you've developed your skills independently, showing your dedication and self-motivation.
• Artistic Influences: Talk about artists, art movements, or even specific artworks that have influenced your style or approach.
• Personal and Cultural Influences: Mention any personal experiences, cultural heritage, or other factors that have shaped your artistic perspective.
• Relevant Keywords: Integrate keywords related to your educational background, influences, and artistic journey. For instance, "self-taught mixed media artist," "influenced by Impressionism," or "graduate of [Art School Name]."
• Hyperlinks: If you mention any notable institutions, workshops, or artists, consider adding hyperlinks to their websites (if available). This not only provides additional context but also helps with SEO.

3. Exploring Artistic Style and Philosophy: Defining Your Unique Voice

Describe your style.

• Visual Characteristics: Explain the key visual elements of your work. Do you favor bold colors, intricate details, abstract forms, or a minimalist approach?
• Techniques and Mediums: Discuss the techniques and mediums you use and why you choose them. For instance, if you're a painter, do you prefer oil, acrylic, watercolor, or mixed media? What about these mediums speaks to your artistic vision?
• Evolution of Style: If your style has evolved over time, briefly touch on this journey. It helps demonstrate growth and adaptability in your artistic career.

Philosophy and Inspiration

• Artistic Philosophy: What are the core principles or beliefs that drive your art? This could be a commitment to realism, a focus on social commentary, an exploration of emotions, etc.
• Sources of Inspiration: Share what inspires your work. It could be nature, urban landscapes, personal experiences, social issues, or historical events.
• Connection with Viewers: Explain how you hope your work will resonate with viewers. Do you aim to provoke thought, evoke emotions, or simply provide aesthetic pleasure?
• Descriptive Keywords: Include keywords that describe your style and philosophy. These might be genre-specific (like "surrealist" or "landscape photographer") or technique-oriented (like "encaustic painting" or "digital collage").
• Artistic Movements or Techniques: If your work aligns with specific artistic movements or uses unique techniques, mention these with relevant keywords. For example, "inspired by Abstract Expressionism" or "specializing in chiaroscuro technique."

4. Highlighting Achievements and Exhibitions: Showcasing Artistic Success

Exhibitions and shows.

• List of Exhibitions: Include a list of notable exhibitions or shows where your work has been featured. This can include solo shows, group exhibitions, or participation in art fairs.
• Galleries or Venues: Mention the names of significant galleries, museums, or venues where your work has been displayed.
• Dates and Locations: For each exhibition, provide the date (or year) and location. This information adds credibility and context to your experience.

Awards and Recognition

• Awards: If you've received any awards, grants, or honors for your work, list them here. Even smaller, local awards can add to your credibility.
• Residencies: Mention any artist residencies you've participated in, highlighting what you accomplished or learned during these experiences.
• Media Mentions: If your work has been featured in art journals, magazines, blogs, or other media, include these as well. Hyperlinks to the articles or features can be very beneficial.
• Relevant Keywords: Use keywords related to your exhibitions, awards, and recognitions. For instance, "award-winning sculptor," "exhibited at [Gallery Name]," or "featured in [Art Magazine]."
• Hyperlinks: Include links to the galleries, art fairs, or articles where your work has been featured. These links enhance your bio's SEO and provide readers with easy access to more of your work and achievements.
• Structured Format: Presenting this information in a structured, easy-to-read format (like bullet points) helps with both readability and SEO.

5. Adding Personal Touches: Incorporating Quotes in Your Bio

Future goals.

• Aspirations: Talk about what you hope to achieve in the future, whether it's a specific project, a new style or technique you want to explore, or broader career goals.
• Upcoming Projects: If you have upcoming exhibitions, collaborations, or projects, mention them to generate interest and showcase your ongoing commitment to your art.

Including a Quote

• Personal Quote: Include a quote that encapsulates your artistic philosophy or approach. This could be something you often say about your art or a reflection on what art means to you.
• Contextualize the Quote: Don’t just insert the quote randomly; introduce it in a way that flows naturally from the rest of your bio. For example, after discussing your artistic journey, you might add, “As I often say, ‘Art is not just a practice, it's a way of living.’”
• Keywords in Stories and Quotes: Use relevant keywords in your quotes, but ensure they fit naturally. For instance, if you’re known for landscape paintings, you might say, “I’ve always believed that every landscape painting is a story of nature untold.”

How to Write an Artist Biography

What is the artist’s biography.

While an artist resume and artist CV may seem similar to many artists, the artist bio is quite a bit different.  The biography serves more as a story rather than the credentials.  Typically the biography is written in editorial style, rather than the listing format of a CV or resume.  

Your bio will be used in various places and many applications and calls for art require differing lengths of artist bios.  It’s a good idea to create a short and long version of your biography that you can have on hand for varying submission requirements.

Often times artist biographies are used on “About the Artist” pages on personal websites, social media platforms, cover letters for galleries, press releases and editorials, and call for entry adjudication.

What information should you include in your artist bio?

• Open with something that encapsulates you as an artist before beginning the more biographical information. “Jane Doe is known for her …”
• Where you reside
• Where you are from
• Formal education and training
• Your artistic influences
• What inspires you as an artist
• What techniques you use
• Artists you've worked under/with
• Awards you’ve won
• Recognitions from media (newspaper, radio, television, websites)
• Commissions and other accomplishments
• Art shows you have curated or judged
• Brief overview
• Links to any websites or recent publications
• Note: try to keep the length down 

When writing your artist biography keep your audience in mind

It’s typically a good idea to write you bio in ‘Third Person’, where you refer to yourself as ‘he or she’ instead of ‘me, I, or my’.  Know who will be reading your biography and tailor your writing for them.  Will they be interested in your upcoming projects or more interested in your historical work?  Basic demographics about your reading audience are also helpful such as age, gender, ethnicity, culture, etc.

Show your bio to another well-established artist  

Get another pair of eyes on your writing.  Have a fellow artist review your artist bio and give tips on items that can be excluded or items that should be included based on your artist style and portfolio. Think of this like a portfolio review for a student! It also helps to have a non-artist review the bio for editing mistakes or typos.

Don’t write just one

You’ll want to write at least two versions of your artist bio (a short form and longer form) as well as revise and add/remove information as your art portfolio and career evolve. For example, on a website artist biography, you have a bit more freedom with length, but for social media platforms and other online systems you may be limited to the amount of data accepted.

What to avoid

We’ve given several tips on items that should be included in your artist bio, but here are a few things you want to avoid in your biography:

• Field jargon or flowery language
• Self-praise – don’t get carried away with self-praise.  Keep facts simple and concise
• Repetition or lengthy wording
• Grammar and language mistakes
• Life situation or personal details (illness, addiction, overcoming obstacles, etc.)
• Quotes from other famous artists or authors.  This is  your biography

ArtCall.org Portfolio sites make publishing your artist bio incredibly easy, as we have a built in “About the Artist” page that has an editable field for Artist Bio and Artist Statement, as well as CV!  If you don’t already have your artist portfolio website setup, Setup Your Artist Website!

RENEE PHILLIPS - MENTOR FOR ARTISTS

Helping Artists Achieve Their Fullest Potential

How to Write Your Artist’s Biography

By Renee Phillips 14 Comments

In “How to Write Your Artist’s Biography” I explain what it is, why you need it, and what to include, plus links to samples and quick tips.

Your Artist’s Biography is essential for viewers of your art who want to know more about you. It helps them to understand what makes you unique and tells them about the journey you took to get to where you are now as an artist.

On the practical side, your Artist’s Biography provides prospective buyers, gallery owners, curators, grant givers and writers knowledge about you. They want to know about your career accomplishments before they decide to invest in your art and promote you.

What Is The Artist’s Biography?

The Artist’s Biography is text, written in the third person (she, he) .

It serves to provide the reader with a story about you as an artist and learn about your career credentials.

It contains much of the same information as a résumé, however, a résumé or CV is written in a listing format and a biography is written in an editorial style.

Your Artist’s Biography may contain a brief description of your art work however it is also not the same as an Artist’s Statement , which your write entirely to express creative inspiration, materials, style and artistic vision.

On your website limit your Artist’s Biography to approximately 250 words or less.

Create different versions of your Artist’s Biography to use for different purposes.

First, before you go further, if you don’t have many credits on your resume read this: “How to Expand Your Short Artist’s Biography – 12 Great Ideas”

Why You Need to write Your Artist’s Biography

You need a well-written artist’s biography to…

Promote your art on your website and blog on the “About the Artist” page.

Create your profile on your social media platforms.

Provide material in your cover letter to a gallery or other art official.

Give to a publicity outlet — art editor, feature story editor or radio or TV host.

Add to your exhibition press release.

Serve as an integral part of a brochure or catalogue.

Add to your proposal for a grant, lecture, workshop or panel discussion.

What To Include in Your Biography

What are the unique attributes of your art?

Where have you previously lived and where do you currently live?

When, where, and/or why did you begin to take interest in art?

Did you study art in school, or were you self-taught?

Did you go to college or art school? Where? What did you study?

Did you receive any press coverage?

What is the title of the magazine/newspaper or blog and the writer’s name?

Have you been interviewed on TV or radio?

What is the title of the show and person who interviewed you?

What exhibitions did you participate in?

What is the name of the exhibition location and title of exhibition?

Was it a juried or invitational exhibition? What is the name of the juror?

Is your art in any important public collections? Which ones?

What awards and honors have you earned?

Have you served in other art art related capacities,  such as: Serving on the Board of Directors or committee of an arts organization?

Have you curated any exhibitions?

Have you written articles about art that have been published?

Have any books about you and your art been published?

Do you create other art-related items in addition to original works of art?

Read some samples of the Artist’s Biography.

Avoid these mistakes i’ve seen on artists’ websites.

Avoid writing about intimate, personal experiences that are not related to your career or artistic vision.

Avoid the use of jargon, colloquialism, and esoteric language that will alienate most potential buyers.

Avoid writing long biographies about your trials and tribulations beginning with childhood, grade school art work…

Avoid grandiose over-inflated jargon about yourself.

Avoid writing excessive quotes and references to famous artists.

Remember, if someone is interested in buying your art or showing your art in their gallery they are more interested in your current career credentials, not what you did as a child.

Read “10 Mistakes to Avoid When Writing Your Artist’s Biography”

Also Read “How to Expand Your Short Artist’s Biography – 12 Great Ideas”

Do You Want Me to Write Your Artist’s Biography? Go to this page to find out how I can help you.

About Renee Phillips

Renée Phillips is a mentor and advocate for artists helping them achieve their fullest potential. She provides career advice, writing services, and promotion for artists from beginners to advanced. She organizes online exhibitions open to all artists as Director/Curator of Manhattan Arts International www.ManhattanArts.com and Founder of The Healing Power of ART & ARTISTS www.healing-power-of-art.org. As an arts' advocate she has served on the advisory boards of several non-profit arts organizations. She lives in New York, NY.

12/23 at 11:09 am

Thank you for sharing your invaluable insight into writing biographies etc.

I am in the process of entering a competition in the UK and I will certainly use your advice to help create my biography.

Accuracy of written content is clearly important to us both and I thought I would like to mention a typo you have made in your ‘Why do you need to write Your Artist’s Biography?’ section, where you have stated, ‘Add to your your exhibition press release.’ (the word ‘your’ repeated ).

I hope you won’t find offence in bringing this to your attention but obviously you want to keep an accurate page without errors.

Kind regards. Bill

12/24 at 11:42 am

Thank you Bill for reading my article and calling my attention to the typo in it. I have fired my assistant editor/proofreader for failing to catch it. Only joking. I greatly appreciate it. 🙂

11/03 at 11:18 am

Thank you so much for your most informative article full of guidance. I am currently assisting a homeless Indigenous artist to get off the streets and launch his art career.

12/24 at 12:14 am

I am a Volunteer with 30 Students approximately 25 active art students. Thay range in age from 4 to 75 with a love for art. I need help with helping them .write their bio and artist statements..Need direction on how to help and how to get help to support my group..I find it hard to get people to share information that will help you grow and thrive in thie art world. I have learned that I have a lot to learn a long road ahead I’m a 62 year old retired .,.nurse.I’ve been an artist for 12 years .

12/24 at 9:34 am

Dear Shirley, Thank you for the work you do helping art students. It must be also very gratifying for you. I love offering advice to artists. Please share this article with your group and suggest that they subscribe to my blog email newsletter to see new articles when they are published. I also suggest you read and share How to Write Your Artist’s Statement. Don’t get discouraged. It can be overwhelming to navigate the business of being an artist. Here’s a good article to read: Take Small Steps to Achieve Large Art Career Goals.t a time . As far as funding for your group, I don’t know where you live, but there are nonprofit organizations that serve as an “umbrella” for groups like yours. Keep going and best wishes to you and your students!

11/13 at 9:35 am

This site is so super amazing and super helpful! I was so happy to have my artist statement! Best Regards, Patrick !

03/20 at 1:13 am

This article was helpful for me but I want to know how I can write organizational biography? Do you have any idea about that, if you have, please share it with me?

Regards, Sumera

03/20 at 9:13 am

Hi Sumera, I’m glad you found the article helpful to you. What do you mean by an “organizational biography”? My guess is you may be referring to a biography of an organization, which would include such information as its mission statement and objectives, often with such categories as “Who We Are”, “What We Do”, “Benefits to Sponsors”, “Benefits to Members”, etc. If so, there are articles about art organizations on The Artrepreneur Coach website. Use this link to find examples of art organizations with good examples of their missions and objectives on their websites https://renee-phillips.com/?s=art+organizations I hope this information helps you.

05/21 at 6:33 pm

Thank you for the guideline. I found this very helpful and concise.

05/16 at 5:31 am

Hello Renee Thanks for this information. It is helpful to me and many more who need such insights.

07/09 at 5:45 pm

I have an artist who I think would really connect with you and benefit from your services. How do I get him connected?

Best Stephanie

07/10 at 6:56 pm

Hi Stephanie, Thank you for your interest in my services. Please direct the artist you know to this page: https://renee-phillips.com/career-coaching-for-artists/ . Information about my consulting and writing services, fees, testimonials and how to contact are all there or a click away. All the best, Renee

09/05 at 6:28 am

Thank you very much for this service , I am having my first show of my life , and am grateful that this help and the awesome advice , i feel blessed to share my work in some capacity to the rest of the World , Aloha

09/03 at 3:29 pm

I did not realize how important a good biography of myself needs to be. I thank you for your helpful tips. Can hardly wait for a more profitable future.

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Writing Services for Artists

My specialty is writing Art Reviews and Art Statements / "Praise Quotes" for artists to use for promotion... on their websites, social media profiles, exhibition catalogues, grant submissions, blog posts, press releases, artists’ books and more. My writing for artists has led to increasing their art sales, attracting publicity, gaining … More...

Copyright © 2014 -2024 Renee Phillips Manhattan Arts International 200 East 72 Street, New York, NY 10021 [email protected]

How to Write an Artist Statement & Artist Bio Like a Pro

When you’re putting your art into the world by entering exhibitions, seeking gallery representation, or applying to publishing opportunities, you need to have a polished artist “presentation.” A big part of this presentation is a well-written and effective artist statement and artist bio. Your artist statement (which should be written in the first person, using “I”) helps introduce your art, giving the reader an understanding that will help them better appreciate your art when they look at it. Your artist bio (which should be written in third person, referring to you by your name and then either your last name or a pronoun in subsequent references) will introduce you as the person behind the art, giving the reader a peek into your background and life experience.

How Long Should My Artist Statement And Artist Bio Be?

I find that artists are asked for statements and bios in three different formats depending on the opportunity: long versions (with a 300 word limit), shorter versions (with 150 word limits), and extremely short versions (1-3 sentence limits). For this reason, I suggest you begin by writing a long version that you edit down to a powerful 300-word statement (or bio). Save that version, and then edit it down to 150 words. While this is painful at first, you might be surprised to see how clarifying it is: sometimes you are left with a more focused and powerful statement! Finally, save your 150-word statement and bio and trim it down to a bare-bones sentence or two version that you can use for situations when that’s all that you are allowed. Pro tip: These mini versions are your “elevator pitches” for who you are and what you do!

Writing Your Artist Statement

 It helps to do some soul searching and journaling before writing your artist statement, because an important goal of the statement is to communicate why you make art and what your art is about. You may be thinking, “Oh no, I don’t make art that has clear social messaging! I paint abstract flowers, for goodness sakes!” It’s ok. Ask yourself about why you have chosen to paint flowers. Is it because certain flowers hold special memories for you? Are you a lifelong gardener? Do flowers represent the life cycle to you? Your art can be all about the materials: it’s totally legitimate to make art because you love the squish of the paint and the scrape of your pencil on the paper. But until you describe your experience of that in your artist statement, nobody knows about that but you.

Your artist statement is a good opportunity to explain any choices that you have made, such as why you gravitate to a certain color palette in your current body of work or why your current work is of a certain scale. Perhaps you went on a trip and the colors of the place you visited have inspired this new series. This information will help the reader connect with the work and understand it better.

Lastly, you should mention what the work is made of and the techniques you use. For example, you may be submitting images of your artwork along with your statement, but it may not be clear exactly what the art is made of. It helps to say something like, “I work in acrylic on large canvases and cradled wood panels. I enjoy laying down paint using everything from brushes to my fingers to popsicle sticks to spatulas. Each painting involves a complex layering process…” This type of detailed explanation helps the reader to imagine how you work. When the reader examines your art, they will look for spatula and finger marks. 

Writing Your Artist Bio

It can be so hard to speak and write about ourselves—I get it. When it comes to writing your artist bio, try to think about everything about your past and current life that has any relevance to your art. For example, you could write about childhood experiences with art that were impactful. If you studied art in high school or college, include that. Perhaps you didn’t go to art school but you have pursued a lot of art education as an adult—you could include that if you’d like, but you don’t have to. If you’re self taught, you can include that or not, depending on how you feel about it. There are no rules. One thing to keep in mind if you worry that you’ll be judged by the education (or lack of it) in your artist bio is that you are being judged on your current artwork, not whether or not you have a BFA or MFA. If the work is good, it’s good!

It helps to let people know what country you’re in, and then get even more focused. If you’re in the United States, I’d recommend putting the state and the region or the city. If you’ve been in exhibits or publications, you should mention that but not list them—that’s what a resume or CV is for.

What aspects of your personal life or hobbies are relevant to your art? For example, if you enjoy scuba diving and it influences your artwork, that is something to mention! If you’re a passionate volunteer and you donate a painting to that organization every year for auction, mention it (this tells us about your values as well as your interests).

What about facts that don’t have anything to do with art, like having a certain number of kids or grandkids or having a house full of fur babies or being obsessed with coffee? I think it’s fine to mention that because it helps humanize you further and can help people connect with you, but I’d keep it as a quick addition at the end.

Keep on Writing

You’ve written multiple versions of your artist statement and artist bio—congratulations! Now for the bad news: these two documents (particularly the artist statement) are not a one-and-done writing exercise. The fact is that your artist statement will evolve over time, just as your work will evolve. With each new body of work that you create, revisit your artist statement. You’ll be surprised to see that even though you only wrote it a few months or a year ago, it no longer “fits” your new work! This is a sign of your growth as an artist. Here’s the best news of all: the more you revise your artist statements and artist bios over the years, you become better at it and it becomes less effortful.

Happy writing!

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How to Write an Artist Biography? (BONUS: Artist Biography Examples)

• Last Updated: March 7, 2024

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Are you going blank at the thought of writing an artist bio?

It’s okay! Artist bios are actually not all that complicated to write, there’s not much for you to learn about before you can start doing it.

As for what you do need to know, continue reading below to see some artist biography examples and find out:

What Is an Artist Bio?

1. point of view, 2. keep artist bios short and concise, 3. focus on answering the key questions, step 1. state your name and background, step 2. introduce your artist journey, step 3. talk about your art style, step 4. discuss your personal influences and inspiration, step 5. list your artistic achievements, 1. professional presentation, 2. gallery or exhibition submission, 3. personal or business website, final thoughts:.

Artist bios are short pieces of writing that include the details of an artist’s life and work. It’s written to serve as the connecting bridge between the artist and the rest of the world.

You can put it on your website, social media, art portfolio, resume, etc. so that your audience and other interested parties can get to know you and your art without having to do deep research themselves.

Things You Should Know Before Writing an Artist Bio

Before we move on to the tutorial, let’s talk about some general rules for drafting a good bio agreed upon by most artists:

The point of view most accepted by most people is third-person POV. Third-person POV is best because it looks more formal and is more easily acceptable for others to read.

To say it bluntly, most people think that writing distantly like this makes it sound like others are talking about you. Rather than you bragging or selling yourself directly.

Of course, not everyone writes their artist bios so distantly. There are some artists who still prefer the more intimate first-person POV for their artist bios. Primarily because it always sounds like you’re talking to your audience directly in this way. So it seems more personal.

Although there is no strict rule when it comes to exactly how long an artist bio should be, it’s always best to keep it short and concise — lest visitors lose interest as soon as they see it.

The general rule of thumb for creating the perfect artist bio is to keep it to a single paragraph — two at most! The paragraph can be a bit longer if need be but try not to make it so long that it takes up the whole page.

Note! It makes sense for artist bios to be long on some occasions. But if you take a look at the artist bio in the image below, you can see how easy it is to lose your focus when you see a page with such a large word count. Readers call long bios that take up a whole page like this ‘wall labels’ because there are so many words that it becomes visually distracting.

If you want to write a long artist bio like this, it’s best to preface it with a short and concise sentence or paragraph, like the one shown on Timothy Goodman’s website.

Put it in bold and make the font bigger so that it can stand out! That way, you can grab the reader’s attention at the first line and allow them to sink their teeth in first.

As a plus, this practice of keeping artist bios short is helpful for search engine optimization. At least, it makes it more likely for your art website to show up above other artists on search engines.

Finally, the most important thing about writing the perfect artist bio is to give the reader the information that they want. For exact details, you can take a look at the tutorial written in the next section.

The key thing is to remember that the purpose of creating an artist bio is to introduce yourself and your value as an artist. So, try not to get too side-tracked.

To give you some reference, have a look at Alexander Calder’s artist bio. Alexander Calder is an American sculptor best known for creating the first mobile art in history.

Most people who go to his website are looking for information about this detail. As such, his accomplishments in this area are the focus of his bio. Not only does it mention the fact that his father was also a sculptor, but also that he had created his first sculptures when he was a child.

It even talked about a specific sculpture that he had worked on and emphasized his talent in that area. And it does all of this without overstating anything, which only makes the audience reading the summary more interested in his professional work and style.

How to Write an Artist Bio?

Alright, now that we’ve finished getting to know some of the more important rules, let’s start drafting artist bios ASAP! For this, we’ve prepared an in-depth tutorial:

To start writing a bio, your first sentence should include your name and your background.

As can be seen in the artist bio example below, Sophie Kahn introduced her name in the first sentence and then talked about her modern art career and background — she was born in Melbourn, Australia and now lives in Brooklyn, New York.

This part usually only takes up one sentence. The artist bio example above takes up two sentences, which is okay, but it’s still preferable to state this as briefly as possible — like in Samantha Keely Smith’s bio below.

After stating your name and background, you can spare a sentence or two to talk about your artist journey.

How did you get your start? Are you like Michelle Carlos, who slowly developed a love for art after doodling on the walls of her home? What about after? Did you also go to professional art school with your fellow artists to further your career?

These are things that are easy for your audience to relate to. Which makes it the perfect conversation starter. Much better than tossing out academic jargon right off the bat, at least.

What makes you unique as an artist? Or rather, what makes you as an artist important? The purpose of talking about your style in artist bios is to answer these questions.

It allows other artists and art enthusiasts to get to know the real you and maybe get in touch with your artist’s practice.

Next, you can talk about your influences and the source of your inspiration. Influences involve idols that act as spiritual support. Maybe you were influenced by other artist’s practices. Or maybe you’re particularly fond of a certain style used by an artist in history.

You can mention this briefly to let others know what influenced you to create your art.

As for inspiration, you can give some examples like Ashley in the artist bio example below. It’s worth noting things like this in your biography so that other artists can understand where the source of your creativity comes from as an artist.

Next up, it’s finally time to talk about your achievements. These don’t have to be particularly fancy or formal. Try to draft a description of your achievements in simple language. Whether it’s about awards won, exhibitions opened, illustrations sold, etc.

Note, even if you have many achievements to talk about, it’s best to focus on one or two in your bio. You can talk about the rest in a separate artist statement.

For example, for artists who focus on architecture , having their art exhibited at the Venice Biennale is one of their biggest achievements. Making it worth noting over other awards they may have received during their career.

If you really don’t want to limit the information shared, there are many examples of artists who create separate artist statements along with their shorter artist bio so that interested parties can get a more comprehensive view of their work experience and views. Just like the example artist statement shown below, which focuses on the artist’s practice and style:

3 Unique Artist Biography Examples for Different Purposes

Although we’ve taught you how to write a bio, these are just basic standard rules. You have to be open to making some changes based on the requirements of the bio that needs to be written. To illustrate this, have a look at the following list of examples:

The first type of bio that we’ll be talking about is the ‘professional’ type. This is used by artists who want to create an art portfolio where fellow artists and other interested parties can view their art. For this reason, the structure of the bio is often very formal and neat.

Just like the artist bio example above. It has all the key points but focuses more on her works and uses formal language.

If your purpose for writing an introduction is to submit your art to galleries and exhibitions, then the focus should be on successful exhibitions and the style of your work. That way, the reader can quickly verify whether you match the requirements of their show.

Most of the ‘bios’ we’ve shown thus far have been taken from the websites of artists. Different websites have different purposes. Just like Livia’s art business shop shown above.

The ‘About Me’ section is very clean and formal. Whereas Jon’s bio below, written for a personal site, is written in first-person POV — making it more engaging and personal.

Now that you’ve learned the basic rules for writing a good bio, it’s time to start working! Best if you could get it up on your site ASAP.

(BTW! If you haven’t started looking for website builders yet, you can check out the Wix website builder or read this article for other relevant recommendations.)

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How to Write a Good & Effective Artist Biography

An artist bio, when written and created correctly will provide the reader with a greater understanding as to the artist's art, the artist’s motivation for creating their art and finally it will provide a guide or a means for a viewer to interpret the artist’s art. In these terms, the importance of an artist’s bio cannot be stressed enough!

What should be included in an effective artist’s bio?

1. Anyone or anything that has influenced the artist’s artworks.

2. Any education or training in the field of art.

3. Any related experience in the field of art.

4. A summary of the artist’s artistic philosophy.

5. Any artistic insights or techniques that are employed by the artist.

6. A short description of what the artist would like to accomplish with their art.

The following are some helpful hints on how an artist can create an interesting bio;

1. Keep the biography structure short, concise and to the point. A rambling disjointed bio will only confuse or lose the reader altogether. Always write the bio in the third person (as if someone other than the artist is writing the bio).

2. Try to write the bio differently 2 or 3 times and then have someone with good writing and communication skills proof the various bios and help you to pull them together into one great bio (there will be different aspects of each bio that are written better than the others).

3. Get an artist(s) who you respect and admire to read your final version and make any suggestions to help improve the final bio. Does this bio reflect you as a person, as an artist and does it accurately describe your art?

4. Finally, after any changes are made as described above, have someone who is an expert in spelling, grammar and sentence structure review and make any necessary changes to the bio.

Keep your bio up to date with any new work, influences and experience that may have changed you, your art and your artistic perspective. Make sure that you have an appropriate and up to date image of yourself that is included with your bio. Also, update the bio on any other websites and art forums where you post and show your artwork as well.

An effective artist’s bio will not sell any art for an artist but it is the type of information that an artist should have in order to provide to any interested person (buyer, gallery, art rep etc.).  Also, this is necessary information that an artist should have, as it will be required during the overall sales process.

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Writing An Artist Biography

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T he artist biography. It sounds so simple, right? Who is more equipped to write about your life and work than you? Well, sometimes it can be the hardest thing to write your own biography because you are too personally involved or are conscious about sounding too boastful. How do you decide which life events are important? Which aren’t? Organizing your own artistic journey into a succinct story can be a big challenge.

Luckily, we are here to help. In this guide, we’ll explain why you need an artist biography and what should be included in it. We will also offer an insight into what galleries are actually looking for when they read your artist biography.

Why Do I Need An Artist Biography?

It has become industry standard to have an artist biography prepared. It should be in your portfolio and on your website. Additionally, once you start exhibiting, this artist bio will find its way onto gallery websites, exhibition materials, and may even be quoted in interviews.

Useful Article: How To Create A Professional Portfolio

While you may want to customize your bio for every situation, it is a good idea to have one all-purpose text prepared at all times. Your artist biography is necessary for most competition entries, gallery and museum submissions, and promotional requests. It is one of the first things that anyone will reference on your website in order to decide if they would be interested in working with you.

What Is The Difference Between An Artist Biography, Artist CV, and Artist Statement?

Being an artist today can be a challenge. As the art industry expands, there is a growing demand for professionalism. There is a long list of necessary (and optional) documents and exhibition materials, like an Artist Statement , Business Cards , a Portfolio and so on.

You could obviously hire someone or collaborate with a representational gallery like Agora to take care of the marketing and publicity. However, there are three important documents that have to come from you – Artist CV, Artist Statement, and Artist Biography. People often confuse the three but they actually serve completely different purposes.

An Artist CV is a timeline of your education, your exhibition history, awards, projects, and press you’ve received. It tells a reader at a glance what you have done in the past, whether it includes previous exhibitions, employment, awards, etc., and lets them decide whether you are the right fit for the job/exhibition.

You could argue that it is basically the artist biography in list form. However, your artist biography includes more information about you as an artist and not just bullet points.

An artist bio talks about your work and your ideas and inspirations. It incorporates your history and connects how your life events have influenced your artwork.

Were you born in the center of New York City, but have always longed for a countryside lifestyle? Is that why you’re an acclaimed rural landscape painter? That’s not going to find its way onto your CV, but the artist biography is the perfect place for that information. Whatever you do, wherever you’re from, it all comes together to create your style and the artwork that you want to share.

Did You Know?  We have written a “How-To” article on creating virtually every document and exhibition material that you might need. Browse through our How-To Tutorials and Marketing Your Art categories of the blog for useful advice and ideas. 

An Artist Statement , on the other hand, is much more similar to your biography. More often than not, it is the front line of communication between an artist and the public. It will be used when you submit your portfolio to competitions, galleries, and museums. It is also usually displayed alongside your works during exhibitions and in galleries. This gives it a sort of flexible nature.

You might have to write a new statement for every exhibition if your works are versatile. The artist biography, however, remains more or less the same. You would only need to update it in case of any major changes to your status or developments in your work. Another major difference between the two documents is that an artist statement is always written in the first person while a biography always talks about you in the third person.

The infographic at the bottom of the page differentiates between all three of these essential artist documents.

Narrowing Down Your Artist Biography

No matter how old you are, you’ve lived a full life of major events and wonderful memories. However, your artist biography needs to be no longer than one printed page. For some submissions, it’ll be even shorter!

That’s why you need to narrow your artist biography down to the key points: show the reader where you’ve been and where you want to go as an artist . The best way to get started is to understand your own artistic path. By answering just a few key questions about yourself, you can figure out what those critical points were in your life that have most influenced your journey as an artist.

Sit down with a pen and paper and answer the following questions:

Once you have an idea, you’ll have to carefully work this into your life story in a way that seems focused, interesting, and (as painful as it may be) concise.

What Galleries/Museums/Press Are Looking For In Your Artist Biography

There isn’t a definitive list as to what facts you must include in your artist biography. Everybody’s different, and so are our stories. So what does Agora Gallery look for in an artist biography?

1. It is the right length

We said it before, but this biography should not be longer than one page. When you send in your artist biography, always check to see if they have word requirements. At Agora Gallery, we prefer that your artist biography is between 100-600 words.

2. It is written in the third person

Yes, you are writing about yourself, but this isn’t the time for “I” and “me” – now is the time for “he” or “she.” An artist biography should be something that can be printed word-for-word in an article or catalog. One or two self-quotations can add some personality and variety, but for the most part you’ll want to save your “I, Me, Mine” for your artist statement.

3. It is interesting and accessible

You don’t need to have been the first man on the moon to have an interesting story to tell. Your most decisive moments in life don’t need to be action-packed: your life may have been changed by something you thought of in the shower. Whether you have an adventure story or something low-key, tell your story in a way that we can relate to. A big part of that is keeping your tone clear and professional, yet not too clinical and detached.

4. We can read it

Proofread your artist biography. Have somebody else look at it, too. Even at Agora, we make sure everything is checked over by at least two people before it is published. Nothing looks less professional than a text littered with spelling and grammar mistakes.

On the other side of the same coin, don’t over-complicate your language. Using highly advanced vocabulary may prove that you’re educated, but it might also alienate many of your readers. The Hemingway Editor , a free online tool, can help you keep your writing from getting too complex.

5. It explains the history of your artwork

Help us draw that connection between you as an artist and your artwork. Let us see your artistic influences and your journey. Again, we don’t need a carbon copy of your CV, we want to know the ‘who’ and ‘why’ of your art. Mentioning other artists who have influenced your work can help contextualize your work and also add legitimacy to it.

6. It doesn’t exaggerate

Don’t hyperbolize. Art professionals know when they’re being lied to, and we aren’t impressed when artists say they’re the “best” in their fields. Which leads us to our next point…

7. It doesn’t judge your work on our behalf

The artist biography should talk about the story behind the work. Talk about your influences, your themes, and your journey. When discussing yourself, avoid words like “visionary,” “prolific,” “extraordinary,” or “genius.” Let the readers come to that conclusion for themselves.

8. It includes the “greatest hits.”

It is important to include some of your biggest achievements in your biography. Tell us about major exhibitions, sales, partnerships, and awards. Just remember to stay focused. You shouldn’t mention more than five achievements in your artist biography, or the writing, tone, and interest level will all suffer. This information can often fit nicely in your final paragraph.

9. It keeps us wanting more

Your biography should give us just enough to get a sense of you and your work, and it should make us want to see the works. So don’t write too much: don’t exhaust your reader with so many details that, by the end of it, they have no more energy to give to your works, your statement, or any of the rest of your portfolio.

Above all, you should feel confident and passionate about what you are writing. Not only are you selling your artwork, but you’re selling the artist behind those masterpieces.

Maintain , Update, And Grow

After all is said and done, make sure to remember that your artist biography will grow and change with you. Don’t be afraid to edit your bio as your artistic style changes, as inspirations come and go, or as techniques and subjects develop with time. No artist creates the exact same works over and over again, and your biography should reflect that movement through your artistic journey.

Stay in touch with us! Our Newsletter is packed with inspiring stories, art tips, and Agora Gallery’s latest exhibition announcements.

Sample Of An Artist Biography

Mary pearson.

After completing her degree, Mary delved even more into her photographic practice,which involved loss and regeneration of life. The images, that Mary takes on her walks in the landscape, are only part of the narrative. She uses the practice of burying her film negatives in the earth to allow the natural environment a voice. It is a collaboration between the artist and the land. Mary cherishes this connection with nature. She feels that the artistic exchange between the land and the artist opens up many opportunities.

Mary has also trained as a teacher, specializing in Further Education. She teaches 16-18-year-olds in order to help them foster the same enthusiasm that she has for photography. She is also pursuing a Master’s Degree in Photography at Plymouth University alongside her teaching.

Mary was selected as one of the Graduates featured in Source Magazine (2014), Ffotogallery Cardiff.  In 2015, she was a finalist South West Graduate Prize. Her series called ‘Biosigna’ or Life Signals has been exhibited in London as well as in Bristol.

Mary lives and works in South Devon, surrounded by the sea and Dartmoor National Park.

As a promotional gallery, we take pride in the diverse group of artists from across the globe represented by us. Want to give your art more time, and leave the marketing and promotional hassles to someone else? Book an online career development consultation meeting today.

For more advice from the Agora Experts, subscribe to our newsletter . Stay tuned to the Agora Advice Blog for regular updates and more.

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22 responses to “Writing An Artist Biography”

Fantastic advice Algora. I will apply all of it to my journey as a chainsaw sculptor.

I need this site    https://www.agora-gallery.com/  for guest posting so please tell me a price.  If you have sites that accept guest posts, So send me the full list with all the metrics.

I am waiting for your positive response.  waiting and thanks  

Thank you so much for this information! I am writing my artist statement and biography for my first fine art showing outside of college education. I’m glad I found your article as I aim to launch my artistic career.

This may well be the best and most professional way to write an artist biography. I was searching about to find out whether to use my last name rather than first to write a 3rd person bio. While using the first name is more immediate and familiar, using my last name (though I don’t really like the impersonal-ness of it) is more formal and has more “bigness” to it. Thank you.

Thank you so much for the great article. It is very detailed, specific, and helpful. I certainly used it while I was struggling with my first Artist’s (photographer’s) Bio.

very helpful and necessary

Thank you for this valuble information and if ever I get resources enough I will be in touch with you to further help my career as a painter.

We are glad that our article proved useful and we’re looking forward to hearing back from you!

I am writing my first artist bio and statement for a juried show and I have to say that all this information has been absolutely fantastic! Really helpful, I feel like I have a place to start. Only questions is, is there a good font? and what about font size?

Hi Francesca! We’re glad our article was helpful! There is no rule of thumb when it comes to the font and sizes used, but our recommendation is to go for something classic, like Times New Roman or Arial, size 12 or 14.

A very useful and helpful link’s, Thanks!

Thank you so much that was really helpful

Thank you very much

thank you very much for this information. You inspire the right path for me.

Thank you for inspire me in never stop dreaming, since my age won’t be any obstacle to bring new artworks in your distinguish gallery. You will hear from me soon, this time is for sure. Thanks Mirza Zelaya-Cosio.

Yours has been the best advice I have found for writing bios. With it I hope to write a well composed biography. Thank you. Patricia Kent

Thank you, Patricia!

What a perfect read, i read each of the word you said in your post. This helps me a lot to start my own blog related to artist biographies. Thanks a lot.

Thanks so very much for this piece. In addition to being an artist, I also write self-help books (not on art! on personal development). It took me years before I realized that each of my professions fed the other and I finally put together a combined CV… but just a CV. It hadn’t occurred to me until I read through your very nicely conceived side-by-side lists that I would do well to work this into my bio as well! Much appreciated!

Thanks for the clear advice about preparing an artist’s biography. There is one area that I have concerns about: the need to include the artist’s date of birth. Unless an exhibition, residency or award has a specific age focus, it is unwise to include this information as it undoubtedly influences those with entrenched ageist attitudes. Can a person be an ’emerging artist’ at 40, 50, 60 or 70 and beyond? Of course they can!! I met a 72 year old artist at an international residency, s/he was inspiring and utterly dedicated. In Australia ( and I suspect elsewhere), such discrimination is rampant and, while it is never acknowledged openly, there is no doubt that it becomes a factor in selection and promotion of an artist. My advice to artists is to allow the reader to focus on your commitment, achievements and artistic journey. Any gallery worth showing in does not concern itself with the age, or indeed the gender identification, of the artist whose works they are considering.

Absolutely, Gillian! Agora Gallery never requires that an artist biography includes the date of birth. For some, it may be an interesting fact to include, but age is by no means a “‘required” piece of information. Many of our artists began their careers in full after retirement, so we’re well aware that one shouldn’t judge talent by youth!

Thank you for reading & lending your thoughts. We hope to hear from you again!

Thanks so much for publishing all these helpful and informative tutorials.

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How to Write a Better Bio: Advice for Artists and Musicians

When writing their own biography, some artists remove any trace of individuality from their bios with boring, generic language, while others exaggerate. For example, if you find yourself saying things like you’re “the voice of a generation,” then I’d suggest you find more objective language. I’ll explain how below.

Your bio should show off your accomplishments as an artist, but it also shows what you are like as a person and a professional, so be sure you devote some real effort and thought to the task, and hire an experienced writer to help you.

A bio answers these basic questions: “Who are you?” and “What do you do?” and that’s really it. A good bio can say more, and it should, but there is a right way and wrong way to do this. Your bio may not seem important, but every chance you have to communicate about your work is valuable.

If your bio bores readers or makes you seem like a jerk then you are making your professional life harder, and we all know that for artists life is hard enough. Here are a few points to keep in mind as you write your bio for the first time, or edit one that you’ve already written.

Answer the basic questions, and then answer follow-up questions

When someone asks you about your work, what do you say? Think about the most basic questions that you might get: What’s your name? What do you do? Who do you perform with and where? Where is your art shown?

You should answer these questions clearly within a few sentences. The more important part of the bio, where you can add personality to the language, comes with the questions that follow: So, your band performs music exclusively by Tom Waits, why? You make massive sculptures using discarded umbrellas, how did that start?

Answers to these questions will begin to draw a vivid and individual portrait of you as an artist.

Pay attention to how you talk about yourself, and use those words

My advice on How to Write An Artist Statement holds true for your bio as well. I encourage everyone to record themselves verbally answering the basic questions, and then actually use those words. If you don’t like what you said, try again until you do, and then just write it down in complete sentences.

Not only will this process liven up your writing, it will help you hone your elevator pitch to help you talk more easily about your work with new acquaintances.

Turn on your recorder and start talking. Do it again. Then do it again.

The first time you might say “I do sculpture,” and that’s a good start. Perhaps the next time around you’ll say “I make funny people sculptures with clay” and this is better still. Try again and you might say “I shape clay into whimsical human forms,” and you are now really getting somewhere.

The verb “shape” is far more specific and powerful than “do” or “make,” both of which could mean pretty much anything. You could go one step further and say “I sculpt whimsical human forms from clay” and get a much more streamlined and powerful sentence. You might find the word “sculpt” to be a bit obvious, so you could be more evocative and say that you “bring to life” or “animate” clay, but these words, while more colorful, also obscure the actual meaning.

You might use them later in the bio, after you’ve clearly established the fundamental work that you do. The point is that you can see just in this paragraph how many choices there are, and how packed with meaning a single sentence can be.

Just the facts, ma’am

I recommend using simple, direct language that describes what you do and have done, rather than trying to compare yourself to others. In other words, let your activities speak for themselves by using objective, rather than subjective, language.

Avoid words like “best,” “greatest,” or “well-known,” which are opinions, and stick to factual phrases like “Joe has performed in concert halls large and small throughout the Midwest and in New York.” A subjective statement like an artist claiming to be a “rapidly rising star” begs the reader to ask whether this is really true.

The only subjective language, or opinions in your bio should be in the form of press quotes.

Be truthful, but positive

Its ok to say if you are a student, new to a particular field or if you consider yourself a “hobbyist” or an “amateur” artist. However, there’s no need to say anything anything negative, like “Joe isn’t a real bass player, but he tries hard.”

I really have read bios like that, and they aren’t humble, they’re just awkward.

Avoid cliche phrases

You have probably read enough bios and talked with enough colleagues to know what the cliched phrases are when people talk about work in your field. Since I know jazz music the best, I’ll use it as an example.

“This jazz quartet leaves room for the unique personalities of its members to shine through” is a statement that is true about any jazz group. Instead you could describe the personalities that you say are shining through: “drummer Joe and bassist Alice play together like a well-oiled, ass-kicking machine.”

This line wouldn’t be appropriate in every situation, but it would definitely portray this group as having a lot of attitude, and this can be very valuable.

Don’t forget the nuts and bolts

I started with language-focused advice because I find that this is where most artists struggle, but it is important to also remember a few technical guidelines. Here is a laundry list of basic requirements:

• Writing in the third person is appropriate for most settings.
• Keep your bio up-to-date. Annual edits are probably plenty, the key is just to avoid highlighting work that no longer represents your current practice as an artist.
• Your bio needs to be easily accessible to anyone who might be curious about you. You should have a website where the bio is copy-and-pastable. If you want to provide your bio as a pdf or Word doc downloads, you can do this, but only in addition to the plain text version.
• Offer a long and short version. Write a long version of 500-700 words and short version from one sentence to 250 words. A good rule of thumb is to post the long version on your website but to make sure that the first paragraph would be acceptable on its own as a short bio. In work I’ve done as a curator and administrator, I always appreciated artists who have well-written bios that are easily accessible.

Your bio is your chance to talk about yourself and your work on your own terms. If you dont have one, or worse yet, forcing them to write one for you or to leave it out entirely.

I offer biography consultations for just $75 — a one-hour session via video chat with one additional round of feedback via email. 

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• March 12, 2021

14 Comments

Written by douglas detrick.

Hi Douglas,

I am working on a personal website at Homestaed and I am looking for someone to write my bio. This is because my English writing is not god enough ( I am from Sweden) Can you help me? Regards Helge

Hello Helge, thanks for reading. I’d be happy to help you! I’ll send you an email directly and we can get started.

[…] can read some more insights on the artist bio writing process in this article and this one.  But avoid information overload and just get […]

I’ve just ran into a snag with my current project. I’m a singer for an established project with a couple of album releases. Unfortunately, business is slow, so I decided to join a cover group for fun. It turns out that my music partners are reluctant for some reason about me using any reference to our project or my accomplishment with regards to the music. Can you tell me if there is some legit reason I cannot list my accomplishments? I don’t believe my bio has anything to do with them personally and feel they are way out of line for asking for it to come off my cover group website.

I can see both sides of this. Your bandmates want to protect the creative reputation of the group. But you want to work, and its your bio, so what’s the big deal? I don’t this is an argument I can get involved in. My advice would be to have a beer with your bandmates and work it out.

Best of luck!

Your maker profile should have a use by date on it. Go read yours and I bet you will find it doesn’t reflect the way you think of yourself or your current work. Hate writing about yourself? TOUGH its some thing you need to do, so read some pointers and get it done. The good news is Good profiles are SHORT because as  Scott Berkun   says

Assume with each word in your bio that fewer and fewer people will keep reading. It’s a great assumption because it’s true.

The average visitor spends 15 seconds on a page; then they click  so put the key info in that first short paragraph WRITE IT, CUT IT and  CUT IT AGAIN. Then make a list of what it tells the reader as a check to see if you have actually ended up saying anything. When you are working on a maker profile where you can’t add pictures you must state the obvious. Say you are a potter/ textile artist/ whatever;  as web visitors all have Attention Deficit Disorder: they are on your page but often can’t remember  why.  So ground them. You think you have a more dedicated reader? Well you don’t, the days of sitting quietly in front of a great big computer gently browsing have gone. At least 70% of your views will be on mobiles. Your reader is probably on the bus surrounded by other people’s one-sided phone conversations; passengers  getting on and off, they are late and have just realised they have sat next to a drunk. It’s not that you do not have their undivided attention, it is more likely you don’t have any of their attention. So be calm, be clear and don’t waste their time Do not do this

“Hello to you and thank you for reading this bit. Please note I own the copyright on all of my images used for my greeting cards or prints. So, this is where I get to talk about me.”

I AM OUT OF HERE Do do this

“I am an illustrator/designer, I specialise in creating modern images with a quirky mid-century feel. My preferred mediums are screen-printing and collage using vintage fabrics. I also produce my designs as digital Giclee prints in limited editions.”

CONFIDENT, FOCUSED, CLEAR

My work is inspired by living in Cornwall, being out everyday in the Cornish countryside and along the coastline with my labradoodle Rufus, foraging for seasonal treats, fishing and growing my own fruit and veg. In my work I seek to evoke the simple pleasures of life here by the sea with a sense of style and humour.”

A GLIMPSE OF HER LIFE THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO BUY INTO A bio answers two basic questions: “Who are you?” and “What do you do?” It should also act as bridge between the viewer and the artist. The first paragraph answers the who and what and 2nd builds the bridge. It is  a very well done and efficient profile. Unimprovable? No, I can cut 20 words from that 2nd paragraph and loose nothing:

“My work is inspired by  being on the Cornish coast  with my Labradoodle Rufus; foraging , fishing and growing my own fruit and veg.  In my work  I seek to evoke these simple pleasures with style and humour.”

That’s why I said earlier, Write it, cut it and CUT it AGAIN   NO LISTS PLEASE This is why:

“I have been taking photographs throughout my career and creating photo images for most of my life.(WE ALL HAVE) My photographs have been used in Company brochures, Universities, Advertising, presentations to the NHS, BIFM, Access Association, accessibility brochures and flyers, and elsewhere.”

(IGNORING THE WEIRD CAPITALS, WHO CARES?)

“I was taught to knit as a child by my Mum. (SO WHAT) I knit to relax, and I love making things. I enjoy knitting with different yarns, recycled sari silk, recycled cotton and wool, banana yarn etc. The different textures and colours are great. An example of items I enjoy knitting are, egg and tea cosies, mug hugs, flower brooches, cushion covers, and things to keep you cosy.”

You are with me now aren’t you? Definitely NO LISTS DON’T CONFUSE FRIENDLY WITH AMATEUR Friendly expert makers can command a decent price. Friendly amateur ones have to charge peanuts

“I live in Xshire and I’m currently unemployed. I love making my crafts in the mean time and will continue to look for a job that pays £40,000 a year that allows me to mess about with glitter.”

 She might as well say “I am selling tat “ TELL THE TRUTH, BUT NOT ALL OF IT and DON’T BE AN APOLOGIST   DO NOT WRITE ABOUT YOUR FAMILY they are irrelevant This sort of thing is not re-enforcing your  standing as a maker so don’t use it

“When my children flew the nest I took up /potting/ sewing / rope wrangling”

It screams amateur and don’t talk about your disabilities either, people fear you will be unreliable It’s not that you can’t write about these things but do so in your blog not in your maker profile . Your maker profile is there to sell. Your blog is there to genuinely share your life.  WHICH PERSON SHOULD YOU WRITE IN? Don’t do that terrible Christmas round robin  thing of swapping around,  you must be consistent otherwise you come across as evasive Don’t use “we” you are not Ford Motors and also, if it’s actually just you, it is dishonest If you write very well and are very confident “I” can work Probably the best thing to do is to just use your first name if you are just starting out  and your full name if you are well established.

HOW TO PRESENT YOURSELF AS EXPERT NOT BOASTFUL  best bit advice on this comes from Douglas Detrick

“Avoid words like “best,” “greatest,” or “well-known,” which are opinions, and stick to factual phrases  like “Joe has performed in concert halls large and small throughout the Midwest and in New York.”

USE  LOTS OF PHOTOS  THEY INVOLVE THE READER BETTER THAN WORDS  DESIGN YOUR PROFILE AROUND THE PHOTOS Layer your photos, crop them, mix it up and make it look informal. Prepare your photos before you write your text then you will know what length you have, also the page is already looking great so you won’t be so intimidated by the task. Its odd but viewers really think they are getting close to you through these pictures, you want to make them want your lifestyle so that they want to buy a little bit of it by having something you make. Even if you are using a template that only allows one  picture cheat by doing a collage so its more lively and arresting. You want a fly on the wall feeling. SAMPLE PROFILES FOr THE beginner and the established craftsperson HOW TO WRITE YOUR PROFILE WHEN YOU HAVE NOTHING TO PUT IN IT

Sarah works in Dorset and specialises in knitwear for children using only natural wools from English flocks. Sarah makes traditional nostalgic pieces which stand up to the rough and tumble of childhood .She has a regular stall at Trollope Bottom market on the last Wednesday of the month.

To this you must add pictures. Perhaps a shot of  her stall, looking very English Calendar; a close up of her  knitting away, a pile of garments folded just to show the patterns, a bit of Dorset rolling countryside and some cute kids in a field walking away from the camera, all wearing her knitwear.   FOR THE WELL ESTABLISHED CRAFTSPERSON

Tom Makepiece is one of the foremost slipware potters in Scotland. His pieces are represented in many major collections including ….( not all, just two or three ) Tom works from a pottery deep in the hills of Mcshire using local clay and a traditional wood fired kiln

(Now quote your self on why you use a wood fired kiln or local clay)

“Only a fool  wood fires, it means 36 sleepless hours of stoking wood to build the temperature within the kiln and maintain it knowing all the time that your work is sitting in there a hostage to  fortune. But it is capable of producing heart stopping lustres which no electric kiln could dream of. For me this is the heart of pottery and allows  my work to line up with the nameless medieval makers I am striving not to make a pot but the pot the one that will ensure that my name will be up there with the greats “ Tom Makepiece trained with the great Lucian Pole at the St Austell pottery and studied with the Japanese master Po in Pot. He is represented by the Bond Street Snob Gallery and the Edinburgh Even More Snob Gallery You will find Tom Makepiece each year at Art in Clay, ( name two top regulars) a full list here (link to page)

To this you add ( if possible) a Video of you making   and a handful of photos perhaps  of you at your wheel,  romantic night-time kiln tending,   at a gallery opening  and a trophy piece That’s it, that is my attempt to help you with your profile page. I hope it prompts you to have a go at yours. If you do then send me a link to the new profile in the comments if you would like my input. If you are defeated and want to take the easy way then I will write it for you and help you with your photos BUT for that please pay me £50  Just fill the form in  

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  If you are intrigued by the photographs then you can read my profile of the maker here   If you want to upgrade your homepage there is a post on that here   Print Email Facebook LinkedIn Twitter Google Pinterest Tumblr Like this:Like Loading…

Thanx Douglas, greetings from South Africa, this information is very useful and thanx for taking the time to put it out there for the world!

All the best for 2015!

Thami, thanks so much for reading, I’m glad you found the post helpful!

Hello Douglas,

Thank you for sharing, I had no idea where to start and now I do.

Kind Regards from New Zealand.

Thank you for reading, Abbie!

Administration / Contributed Articles / Your Website How To Write An Effective Artist Bio That Won’t Be Ignored – PART 3 March 27, 20151

Today we finish off our 3-part series on writing an effective bio by Phil Johnson of Big Whiz Bang. You can read PART 1 here and PART 2 here. __________________________________________ STEP 8: Time for the dreaded first draft. Now we get into actually writing something. Don’t worry about getting it perfect on the first try. Just like working out the details of a song or bit, your bio doesn’t come in one single wave of genius. You need to write in article format. Important general info in the first part, deeper info in the second part, and a summation in the third part. We’re looking at 3-4 paragraphs here. It’s a format that the press has perfected for hundreds of years to get a maximum of information into your eyeballs quickly. Plus, of course, that makes it easier for them to just print exactly what you gave them. Don’t forget to write in 3rd person. Paragraph 1: A broad overview of the general theme of your work plus a quick mention of your achievements/credits if any. Paragraph 2 (optional):– Write about your influences and what they contribute to your work. You investigated 8 of them in your preliminary writing. For this just pick out the 2 or 3 that most strongly resonate with your current work. This paragraph is optional. While picking through your influences will help you find your themes, you still may not want to put them into your bio. Totally up to you. Paragraph 3: Write about the bits or songs on your current album or in your current show. This is where you dig into those insights and give them 3 or 4 bite-sized insights that reinforce the themes you presented at the beginning. This can be split into two paragraphs if it gets too long. Or you may be talking about two sides of an issue that can be split into separate paragraphs. Side note: Does all your material have to work with the theme? No, it doesn’t. If you look at someone like Louis CK, he has some main themes that glue the show together, but he’ll do a few off-theme things as well. The flip side is someone like Christopher Titus who writes a themed show from top to bottom. Again, you’re not trapped in your themes here. Make the story cohesive and then let it evolve over time. Paragraph 4: This is the roundup portion and your last chance at pulling that reader in. A quick summary of the themes and how they apply to your overall vision of your work. Section 5: If you’re going to include a list of stats like this, put it in a section after your last paragraph. It’s just data that industry types like to see. Now, put it away and go do something else. Come back to it the next day for some editing and review. STEP 9: Editing and Review. Now that you’ve had some time away from it, you’ll be able to look at your first draft with fresh eyes. Time for your first rewrite. Here are some things to ask yourself while you’re editing. – Is it coherent? As a music artist or comedian, you’re certainly adept at writing within your discipline. But prose may be a new world for you. – Could you swap out your name with someone else’s and have it read the same? I hope not. If your statements are too general or full of hype, they won’t connect with anyone because they could apply to anybody. “They rock hard!” should apply to any good rock band. “He bowls an audience over with killer jokes” is literally your job description as a comedian. Use the stuff that sets you apart from others. – Are you trying to make too many points? Remember, you want to center in on one or two themes and explain how your art works within them. Feel free to work outside them as well. Just leave that stuff out of the bio until new themes arise. – Are you including things that people who don’t know you yet don’t care about? The brand of guitar you play or the sitcom producer you once did some writing with will be plenty interesting to someone already in your tribe. Someone who’s new to your world doesn’t care yet. STEP 10: Get some other eyeballs on it. As an artist, we’re always too close to our work to have a truly objective view of it. So it’s time to have some other people look at your bio. Find a few people who are familiar with your current work and ask them to give it a read and comment on it. Both fans and your peers in the artistic community are good for this. Do they see those same aspects of your influences in your work? Do they see that theme at work in your stuff? Really, does it sound like you? If they read it and it either sounds like someone else, or sounds like everyone else, go back to the drawing board. If they’re seeing something different in your work, maybe you missed a cool theme they’re picking up on. Or maybe it’s a different wording of the same thing. Maybe they’re not seeing that punk rock influence in your wispy singer-songwriter material. Compared yourself to Robin Williams and your fans are saying Stephen Wright instead? There’s one of two things happening here… You could really want to be about those things you wrote in your bio draft, but aren’t yet. Maybe you wrote a mission statement instead and can work towards those ideas. Or you’re perfectly happy doing what you’re doing and just didn’t explain it in a way that jives with the way your audience is viewing you. In that case go back and write the bio again, this time using the feedback of your audience. Find a couple people who aren’t familiar with your work at all and let them read it. You’ll get different information here. Does it entice them to want to see your show or listen to your music? Does it sound generic? (Root out and destroy the hype!) You may even pick up a few new fans in the step. STEP 11: More editing. Take all that feedback from the people that read it and do another rewrite. You may have gotten some feedback that you totally don’t agree with. That’s fine. You don’t have to use all of it. But if you see a trend of the same comments from different people, that’s something you may want to implement. You might repeat steps 9 and 10 a couple of times until you’ve got a version you really like. I usually do at least 4 or 5 rewrites on my bios. STEP 12: Creating alternate bios. Outside of the press, most people using your bio will need a shorter one. So it’s time to compress that puppy down to 50- and 100-word versions. When I write the long bio, I try to create the first paragraph to stand on its own as a bio 50 word bio. If you’ve done that, part of your work here is done. Just be sure that it makes sense on its own. Here’s a boo-boo in one of my own bios. Check this out… Being human is a constant struggle between defining ourselves as individuals and trying to fit in with “the group”…Phil Johnson, who has appeared at the Sundance Film Festival and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, uses comedy and music to dissect that dilemma in his own life and others. That’s the first two little bits of the bio. The problem is a lot of bookers will just take the part that starts with my name and use that. So the reference to “dissect that dilemma” makes absolutely no sense because they didn’t grab the first line. And nobody proofreads apparently. Instead, I changed it to this: Being human is a constant struggle between defining ourselves as individuals and trying to fit in with “the group”…Phil Johnson, who has appeared at the Sundance Film Festival and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, uses comedy and music to dissect the dilemma of individuality vs. acceptance in his own life and others. I had to restate it, but that at least makes sense on a poster. Now if I could just get people to stop using the old version… Now you need that little halfway point of the 100 word bio. I usually take the first paragraph that I used in the 50-word bio and last paragraph of the long version as a starting point. A little quick editing and you should have a 100-word bio that makes sense. As mentioned before, you may also want to do other versions for targeted niche groups you’re marketing to. Maybe a different bio for corporate or college gigs versus club gigs. If you’re marketing yourself to particular type of charities or hobby organizations, write a bio specifically for them. It seems like a ton of work. But you should be able to use your basic 4-paragraph bio as a starting point. Then slip in some different credits or reference different bits or songs in the middle. It’s still your work, so it won’t be a huge difference except for the some wording. And there you have it! A bio that will actually communicate for you rather than just acting as some fluff for the flyer. Your art is going to evolve which means your bio will too. Revisit it every 4-6 months and see if it still makes sense with what you’re doing now. If not, give it a tweak. You can read some more insights on the artist bio writing process in this article and this one. But avoid information overload and just get started. Got questions? Leave me a comment below and I’ll be happy to answer them as best I can.Want some personal help from me to write your bio? Contact me and we’ll get you figured out.”

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It’s 10:30 the night my music business project is due and your advice is currently saving my GPA. Thanks in advance!

You’re welcome! I hope the project turned out well!

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9 Writing Tools to Develop You..

The artist’s guide to writing a bio gallery&..., tips for artwork care and main.., the artist’s guide to writing a bio gallery’s will love.

• by Frank Hamilton
• 14 December
• Advice Artists Featured Articles

THE ARTIST’S GUIDE TO WRITING A BIO GALLERY’S WILL LOVE

The life of an artist is full of unexpected twists and turns. Every new day brings with it fresh feelings and ideas for new masterpieces. Each painting is a ticket to the worlds of high art and international popularity. With its arrival, however, each artist is faced with many challenges, including the writing of a biography. Who better than yourself to write about your life and work? But how can you know which events are significant for it and which are not?

For any creative person, turning a creative path into a short story can be a real challenge. A well-written biography draws the audience’s attention and contains the most important information about the artist. Let’s figure out why you need to write a biography, what it should include, and what galleries are looking for in it!

HOW DO YOU WRITE AN ARTIST DESCRIPTION?

The artist’s biography summarizes his life and career from childhood to the present. An artist may be asked to write a biography for a printed program, a book cover, an article in an art magazine, or a press release. Because of the integration of social networks and the Internet into the lives of creative people, biographies have become an essential component of developing an effective personal website.

Depending on the purpose, the artist’s bio can follow a suitable format. For example, on a personal website, it might be streamlined and optimized for search engine optimization (SEO). A biography for an exhibition at a gallery or museum program can highlight the author’s most recent works, which are on display.

TIPS FOR WRITING A GOOD ARTIST BIO

Here are some helpful hints to help you create the most appealing and high-quality content:

§ Use Short Paragraphs

When writing an artist’s bio, you should keep in mind that it should attract people’s attention and want them to learn more about you and your art. Long sentences stuffed with difficult terms will bore your readers. As a result, write all information in short sentences, emphasizing only the most important facts from your life.

§ Use A First-Person Perspective

Using a first-person perspective while talking about your life and experience can help establish an intimate relationship with the reader in most cases.

§ Stick to the Gallery’s Style Format

Each gallery has its set of publishing guidelines. As a result, before writing about yourself, it is critical to learn whether a specific gallery has unique requirements or if the generally accepted ones can be followed.

§ Proofread Before Submitting

Before sending your biography to the required gallery, have someone else – a friend, family member, or agent, if you have one – level up your work and check for typos.

HOW TO WRITE A GOOD ARTIST BIO: A STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE

A fascinating biography of the artist does not require the artist to be an experienced writer. If writing is not your primary mode of expression, consider using the following step-by-step guide when creating an artist biography:

1. Experience

Begin your artist biography with a broad overview of your life and career. This introductory paragraph may include:

• When and where were you born?
• Where did you grow up?
• What is your line of work?
• Who taught you?
• How did you become acquainted with art?
• What challenges or stumbling blocks did you face while pursuing a career as an artist?
• Your most talked-about pieces of art and projects;
• Significant honours;
• Education and training.

2. Early Career Highlights

The second paragraph of your artist biography can highlight facts from your early career and education:

• What are your work’s themes?
• What are they about?
• What distinguishes or makes you unique among other artists?
• What message do you want to convey to the audience?
• What is the first thing people notice about your artwork?
• How has your art evolved?
• Who have you looked up to as an artist?

In most cases, you should avoid delving into specific long-standing events unless they are directly related to the works of art on display.

3. Mid- And Late-Career Highlights

Discuss the highlights of your mid- and recent career in the third paragraph. If you won an award, please list it next to the winning projects. This part does not have to be an entire list. Instead, choose the most prominent ones that affected the development of your career as an artist.

4. Notable Collaborations

Highlight any professional collaborations in the fourth paragraph. You can also list joint exhibitions in this section.

5. Final purpose statement

Fill out the artist biography with a statement about your current and future pieces of art. If the biography is a newly exhibited work of art, write this paragraph in its context. It will be the simplest paragraph to write in the first person.

WHAT DO THE GALLERIES WANT TO SEE IN YOUR CREATIVE BIOGRAPHY?

There are no set guidelines for writing an artist’s biography. Every gallery is unique and has its specific requirements. There are, however, some highlights that the galleries pay attention to in the artist’s bio:

§ Correct Length

Your biography should not exceed one page. Before sending a document, always double-check the number of words or characters allowed for publishing from a specific gallery.

§ Interesting Facts

Decisive moments in life should not be dominated by action; perhaps something has changed in your soul as a result of your time spent in reflection. Whether or not you have had an adventure, tell others about it so they can understand you. Use a professional style that is not too cold or impartial.

§ A Thorough History of Your Work

Assist the gallery in connecting you as an artist with your work by following the creative path and determining what influenced it. Make sure that you provide the answers to the questions “How did you become an artist?” and “Why did you become an artist?”

§ Do Not Exaggerate

Professionals in the field of the arts quickly recognize deception. Be honest with both people and yourself.

§ Do Not Assess Yourself

The artist’s biography should tell a story. When describing yourself, avoid words like “visionary,” “author of many works,” “extraordinary,” and “brilliant.” Allow the gallery’s audience to draw their conclusions.

§ Achievements

It is critical to include some of your accomplishments in your biography. Tell readers about the major exhibitions, sales, collaboration examples, and awards.

More than five accomplishments should not be mentioned in a single letter. Otherwise, the tone of the letter and the level of interest will suffer. This information is frequently ideal for the final paragraph.

§ Make People Want to Learn More

Your biography should contain just enough information for people to understand you and your work and want to see it. As a result, do not write too much: do not exhaust the details to the point where the reader lacks the energy to review the works and draw conclusions.

Be certain and enthusiastic about what you are writing about. You sell not only your works but also the artist who created them.

Remember that your biography will change and evolve with you. If your style has evolved, do not be afraid to make changes. Techniques and themes evolve, as does inspiration. The artist never creates the same work twice, and your biography should reflect the changes that occur along your creative path.

Author bio : Frank Hamilton has been working as an editor at essay review service  Writing Judge  and an author at custom writing company  Best Writers Online . He is also a professional writing expert in such topics as art, digital marketing and self-education. 

Frank Hamilton

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