Brief artist bio
The Gallery’s Guide to Writing Good Artist Bios
1. Create a concise summary
An artist bio should concisely summarise the artist’s practice. It’s not about covering an artist’s entire CV or full biography. Focus on a few main points that you believe to best introduce the artist and their art. Always include the medium, themes, techniques, and influences the artist works with.
2. Use clean, simple language
Use clean, simple language and avoid academic jargon and exaggerated language. Readers respond to authentic, simple texts and will take you much more seriously than if you use over-embellished language.
3. Grab the attention with a creative first sentence
Try to start the bio with a first line that is not simply a standard biographical introduction. Instead, be more creative and write a first sentence that grabs your readers’ attention while also telling them what is the most important thing about this artist and their work.
4. Include the artist's date of birth and nationality
Always add the date of birth (and in the case of artists who have passed away, the date of death) and the nationality of the artist. Also mention where they are mainly based – readers are interested in knowing where an artist is living and working, as this adds to a certain understanding about the artist’s influences and way of working.
5. Keep the bio around words
The bio should be between 80 and words. An ideal artist bio is words. Research at museums has shown that visitors lose interest in reading wall labels accompanying art works after words. That’s why it’s better to limit your word count to around words – your readers will get enough information and be curious to learn more on their own, without getting bored and leaving your page because they don’t want to read an unnecessarily long text.
6. Discuss medium, techniques and style
Include all the important tangible aspects of the artist’s practice including: the medium and techniques the artist us
Write the Perfect Artist Bio With These Five Simple Tips
50 words is all you need to get started.
Your artist bio is about connecting with someone and giving them a window into who you are. Keep it concise and engaging. If you focus on what is intriguing about your work, your artist bio can be a powerful tool to help your biggest fans become repeat customers. With your Society6 bio at the very top of your shop page, you&#;ll want to take advantage of it&#;s prime location.
We asked photographer Mallory Morrison to draw up her top tips on writing an artist bio. Her distinct blend of dance-inspired poses and underwater photography has kept her active in the art scene since she began shooting in She&#;s taught several workshops on how to shoot underwater and her work continues to be purchased, shown and licensed across the US and internationally.
1. Get straight to the point
For the basic info, stick to your highlight reel! While it might be important to you, most customers aren&#;t going make a purchase because they know your cat&#;s name, where you went to high school, or how much you have struggled to “get where you are today&#; (unless, of course, it&#;s obvious to a customer that it&#;s relevant to your artwork).
These are the items most important to your bio. It usually makes for a more interesting read to lead with your inspiration.
- Where you are currently based. Only mention where you were born or grow up if it informs your current work and is worth noting.
- Your art medium(s) and special techniques
- Inspiration and what you are passionate about
- Your biggest achievements. This can be awards, high profile clients you’ve worked for, or gallery shows
Bonus Tip: When describing how long you have been doing something, use the year you started. Example: &#;since ” vs. “for 5 years&#;. This way you won’t have to update it every year.
How to Write an Artist Bio
As someone who interviews people for a living, I often ask interview subjects for a bio and a headshot. But any time someone has asked the same of me, I balk!
I’ve got the headshot covered but the bio gives me pause every single time, especially when I’m asked to write a bio as an artist. I find it challenging to write my artist bio. I want to sound serious but not pretentious. I want to honor the medium that I work in without making it more than it is. And I want to do it in a way that makes me seem like a good writer.
In some ways, it’s hard to write an artist bio for the same reasons that it’s hard to write resumes and cover letters. An artist bio needs to thread the needle of showcasing your accomplishments without appearing to brag. It can feel challenging to condense your entire artistic practice, vision, and CV into a few short sentences. If you don’t have accolades or degrees from fancy institutions, you might feel inadequate as you write your bio. Plus, they can often feel formulaic and constraining as a written form.
But, even though they can be challenging to write, artists need bios. You need them for grant applications, media coverage, your website, for any show that you’re in, or any place where you are speaking or presenting publicly. Having a better grasp on your bio will help you seek out new opportunities and respond confidently when asked to provide that bio.
Fractured Atlas is dedicated to helping artists like you (and like me!) manage the practical aspects of your creative life; from finding studios to raising money to accepting tax-deductible donations. If you don’t feel like you can write about yourself or your work, you might be holding yourself back from seeking the resources you need to make the art that you want to make. So, if you’re stuck on your bio and that’s holding you back, we’ve got some tips.
Read Other Artist Bios
The first step to writing your own artist 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. I find that artists are asked for statements and bios in three different formats depending on the opportunity: long versions (with a word limit), shorter versions (with word limits), and extremely short versions ( sentence limits). For this reason, I suggest you begin by writing a long version that you edit down to a powerful word statement (or bio). Save that version, and then edit it down to 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 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! 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 yoursel How to Write an Artist Statement & Artist Bio Like a Pro