*Updated April 2023
At this point in my career, I've worked with hundreds of artists to help them write and edit the best versions of their artist statements, biographies and resumes. While I love asking the deep questions so that they make incredible breakthroughs in their writing or suggesting small tweaks that enhance the clarity of their words, I know that sometimes artists get stuck at the very beginning.
In this article, I'll share a few general tips for writing about your art and career so that you can break past writer's block and communicate in a way that is both informative as well as genuine to your practice.
Let's jump right in!
4 Tips for Writing Your Artist Statement & Biography
1. Write a bad first draft
No, really. It helps! I've been writing professionally for over five years and this is something that took me a while to learn and implement but was a game-changer once I did. It's infinitely easier to edit once you already have ideas written on the page versus overthinking and trying to compose perfect sentences or paragraphs in your head.
2. Remember that writing is a form of art
Nobody expects you to be an expert at it right away. Were you a master in your preferred discipline when you first started? Likely not. So why put the unnecessary pressure on yourself to produce impeccable writing from the start? Aim for your writing to be clear and concise and if you achieve that, it will more than suffice.
3. The easiest ways to improve your writing are to practice & read as much as you can
It's just like with your art - the more time you dedicate to it, the better you get (and more efficient too!).
Reading contemporary art magazines, blogs, and more will give you examples of how other writers and experts in the industry discuss and describe art as well as the exact vocabulary they use. Pay attention to the flow of the writing and the tone of voice. I suggest looking at a variety of publications to benefit the most from this exercise and especially seeking out ones that highlight artists similar to you.
The process doesn't end at reading, however. Put into action what you've learned as often as you can. Practice writing a show review when you visit a museum or gallery, try writing longer captions or email newsletters to your audience every once in a while or add a blog to your website to motivate you to write more often (& improve your website SEO!). I'll bet you'll find that the more you do this, the easier writing will get and you may even begin to enjoy it ;)
4. Always think of who you're writing for
Think about your current collectors and followers and imagine you're speaking directly to them. Remember to strike a balance between how you can best communicate with them and what kind of writing feels most authentic to you. Even though I do want you to consider who will be reading your statement or biography, don't get lost in trying to write what you think a gallery or curator wants to hear. The best voice to write in is always your own. Don't over-intellectualize and add unnecessary jargon as an attempt to sound impressive.
*One final important note: it's a good idea to write in a way that someone without any art knowledge would still understand what you're saying. Ask a friend to read over what you've written if you're unsure.
And that's it! Thanks so much for reading. I hope you'll stick around on our website to view more of our free career articles. If you enjoyed this article and found it helpful, I invite you to check out a resource I created called the How to Write Your Artist Statement & Biography Workbook! After noticing trends of where artists typically get stuck with writing and similarities in the questions they have about what to write, I collected all of my advice, strategies and more to help you write with confidence in a style that is your own. My workbook is the way to stop overthinking and just. start. writing. Keep reading to learn what's inside this guide!
The workbook includes:
- 50+ pages of written advice for drafting and editing a professional artist statement and biography without stress
- 4 journal prompts to help you get started and jumpstart the writing process
- 4 phrases to avoid when you write about your art and career & why they don't work
- 2 pages of resources for additional tips and recommendations on where to read about contemporary art
- 1 bonus exercise that will instantly elevate your writing
For further details and to purchase, check out the How to Write Your Artist Statement & Biography Workbook page.
We also talk about writing in our comprehensive business course for artists, The Smartist School.
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Alicia Puig has been a contributing writer for Create! Magazine since 2017. Find more of her work: www.aliciapuig.com
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