The Artist Statement

supported by Study Skills

Writing an Artist Statement

A good artist statement will support your professional practice, for example:

  • Giving brief information to support an exhibition or catalogue
  • Submitting a proposal
  • Applying for a grant

It should be:

  • Concise
  • Effective in communicating the details you wish to emphasize
  • Written in the first person
  • Written primarily in the present tense

It should be adaptable in order to take into account:

  • Your audience
  • Your purpose or motivation for writing it

It might contain information on:

  • What your motivation is for the work you do:
    • What issues are you exploring and why?
    • What concepts, themes or convictions underpin your work?
    • How do your life experiences influence your work
    • How does your personality influence your work?
    • How have your ideas developed?
  • The techniques and materials you use:
    •  How and why did you choose them?
    • What scale do you work in?
    • Do you have a particular process of working?
    • Do you intend to explore other techniques or materials?
  • Your background:
    • Are you a student or a practicing artist?
    • Details of your educational history if you feel it appropriate
    • Have you contributed to any prestigious shows or events?
  • How you contextualise your work:
    • Where do you feel you fit into the Contemporary Art World?
    • Does your work challenge the work of others?
    • Have you appropriated or referred to the work of others?
  • Your goals and aspirations and to what extent you have realised them
  • Personal reflections on your work
 
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