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 200 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?
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”
Hi Renee,
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
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. 🙂
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.
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 .
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!
This site is so super amazing and super helpful!
I was so happy to have my artist statement!
Best Regards,
Patrick !
Hello,
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
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.
Thank you for the guideline. I found this very helpful and concise.
Hello Renee
Thanks for this information. It is helpful to me and many more who need such insights.
HI Renee!
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
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
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
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.