✍️ Write A Compelling Artist Bio & Statement For Your Website
9 MINUTE READLAST UPDATED: OCTOBER 2025 Finding it hard to write about your artistry? You’re not alone. Having helped a number of artists present and sell their work online, I’ve noticed that artist bios and statements seem to be particularly difficult to write. Creating art is such a big part of your identity - how could you possibly write something that sums it all up?
I totally get it. I’ve had my fair share of staring contests with blank sheets of paper. But thankfully, there are ways of getting through. And… if you want to sell your work, you’ll have to write about it. So, how about we give it a go?
Let’s break through your writer’s block and produce an artist bio and statement that’ll do your work justice.
Artist Bio vs. Artist Statement.
While the artist bio and statement are closely related, they’re not exactly the same. So, it’s useful to have a clear understanding of what they are and how they differ before we begin.
What is an artist bio?
An artist bio is a brief professional summary that introduces you as an artist. It covers your background, education, significant exhibitions, and career highlights. It's like a condensed artist's resume that provides a quick overview of your experience and credibility in the art world.
What is an artist statement?
An artist statement explains why and how you create art. It helps viewers understand your creative vision, techniques, and themes. A good artist statement offers insight into what drives you as an artist and provides context for experiencing your work.
What is the difference between the two?
In short, the artist bio is about you, the artist, whereas the artist statement is about your work, the art.
Three Practical Steps For Writing Your Artist Bio.
There are two good reasons for starting with the artist bio:
Quick win: The bio is more about gathering and organising facts than creative writing, so it’s an easier text to write, and it’s always nice to start with a quick win.
Useful tool for writing the artist statement: Having your artistic journey laid out in front of you can be a super useful tool when you will explain the purpose and vision behind your work in the artist statement later on.
Step 1: Gather the facts about your artistic journey
To write the bio, you’ll need to start with a fact-finding mission about your own artistic journey. Collect the following:
Dates, places, and names of key exhibitions, fairs, awards, grants, or projects you’ve done
Find your university diploma(s), course certificates, or other academic accolades
Locate press articles or other publications where your work has been featured
List past and current gallery partnerships, as well as collections your work is a part of
Remember that this is a document for professional use, so try to focus on professional milestones rather than personal ones.
Step 2: Create an organized timeline
Once you’ve gathered the info listed above, organise it according to category, sort the items in each category from newest to oldest, and create a neat, resume-style page section. The goal is to create an overview that can be scanned quickly.
Step 3: Write a short opening paragraph
It’s common to have a short opening paragraph showing the highlights of your career, describing your current artistic practice, and naming some of the key places where your work has been displayed.
A few writing tips:
Keep the intro paragraph concise: max 50-150 words.
Include your full name (or artist name), birthplace and year of birth
Mention your current place of work
Add a little bit of flavour with a brief statement about your artistry (if you find this tricky now, wait until you’re done with the artist statement and borrow a sentence or two from it)
Mention where your audience and collectors are based and who they are
Example
John Smith (b. 1987, Chicago, USA) studied Fine Arts at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and completed a residency at Berlin’s Urban Arts Lab. Now based in Brooklyn, New York, John bridges the raw energy of the street with the intimacy of interior spaces. His work has been collected internationally and exhibited in galleries, murals, and design-focused venues across the US and Europe.
Creative Writing Tips For Your Artist Statement.
Bio all done? Very well, let’s continue with your artist statement. This will take a bit more creative effort on your part, but I’ve got a few tricks up my sleeve to help you get started.
Just know that it’s totally fine if you’re not able to get a finished product in a single day. In fact, it will most likely take you a few days or even a couple of weeks to make a final version that you’re happy with. That’s totally normal, and a sign that you’re taking this seriously - which is actually a really good thing.
However, to make sure that this doesn’t become a never-ending project - I do recommend setting a deadline for when you will hit that “publish” button. You can always return to it and make edits and updates in the future.
Step 1: Get your creative juices flowing with these 10 artist statement writing prompts
Starting a creative writing process staring at a blank page can make even the most creative writing minds go crazy - so let’s not do that. Instead, try answering each of the writing prompts below to give yourself a bunch of notes and background that you can pull from.
Here are the 10 writing prompts:
Why, when and where did you start making art?
What materials or tools do you use, and why?
What themes or questions are central to your work?
What do people who experience your work typically say?
Which experiences or obsessions drive your creativity?
Which artists, movements, or disciplines inspire you, and why?
What emotions or reactions do you want your viewers to feel?
What makes your approach or technique unique?
How does your work reflect your perspective or worldview?
How has your artistic journey evolved over time, and what direction do you see your work taking in the future?
- Put aside proper grammar, spelling, and sentence structure for now - just write whatever comes to mind. Imperfect action beats perfect inaction every time. So, for now, the goal is to get your pen (or keyboard) moving.
- The prompts are starting points, and this is not a school exam. So, allow yourself to follow random trains of thought, tangents and anecdotes, and don’t care about whether you’re answering the question perfectly. The goal isn’t to “get it right”, it’s to give yourself a lot of raw notes that you can pull from. Just keep pouring your thoughts on to the page.
- Don’t worry if you start repeating yourself - that’s stuff you’ll easily fix in edit. Just keep the words flowing.
- If writing’s not your thing, try using a voice recorder, have a friend interview you, or start a conversation with an AI tool like ChatGPT, Gemini or Claude.
- If you’re an English second-language speaker like me, but plan to write in English, try starting in your native language and translate it later on.
Step 2: Review your notes and make a first draft
If you completed the prompt exercise above, you should have a lot of text by now. The next step is to gather the pieces and give your text some structure. You’ll be cutting a lot, but that’s ok. Such is the creative process. Look at what you have written in the previous step and highlight the words and phrases that best describe why and how you make your art.
Suggested structure:
Try committing 1-2 sentences to each of the bullet points below. Keep your draft between 150-300 words.
Opening: Define your work. What do you make and why?
Materials & Methods: Briefly explain how you make your art and key influences.
Testimonials & feedback: Talk about how you want your audience to engage with your work and share how they’ve responded.
Invitation: Invite the audience to interact with and experience your work.
Example artist statement
John Smith creates bold, contemporary street art that brings the pulse of the city into your space. Working with spray paint, stencils, and layered textures, he transforms urban grit into vivid, high-energy compositions that stop you in your tracks. His work draws on the raw beauty of weathered walls, graffiti tags, and neon-lit nights, capturing the fleeting moments and textures that make a city unforgettable.
Collectors love how his pieces inject personality and movement into a room - whether it’s a downtown loft, a buzzing café, or a creative workspace. Each work is designed to make you look twice, spark conversation, and carry a piece of the street’s energy wherever you are.
Remember who you’re writing for. Is your website for gallery owners, interior designers, private collectors or young couples looking for a cool piece to hang in their living room? Who you’re writing for should impact your tone of voice, expressions and anecdotes. Select text that you think will vibe with your target audience.
Step 3: Edit and refine
Got your rough draft(s)? Now the refining process begins. You’ll typically write and rewrite this several times before you’re happy with it, and that’s perfectly fine. This is a tough piece of writing to complete, and it’s perfectly normal to spend some time on it.
Refining tips:
Read aloud to check flow and clarity. Does it feel natural coming out of your mouth?
Underline or cross out any words /phrases that are awkward or seem out of place
You could try combining or rearranging words and phrases to create a better flow
Compare it to how you have presented yourself publicly. Is your voice consistent with your overall brand?
Assembling The Pieces.
Having followed the steps above, you now have an artist bio giving a solid overview of your artistic journey and an artist statement providing a compelling account of the “why and how” of your artistry.
The final step is for you to put the two texts together to ensure that they flow well as one, coherent presentation - and then hit “publish”.
Many artists love to go a bit crazy with their web designs - this is one of the pages where that’s really not recommended. Remember, the people looking for this part of your website are after the content - they want to know your artistic journey and vision. If you obscure that with a hard-to-read design, chances are you're missing out on some pretty great opportunities and potential sales. So please keep this page design simple!
Conclusion.
And, that’s a wrap - great job, you made it!
Now, sit back, relax and hit that “publish” button on your website.
Just remember - this should not become a static and forgotten page on your website, but be a fresh presentation that you review and update periodically as you finish new projects, participate in more exhibitions, partner with new galleries, and reach other new career milestones and achievements.
Need a helping hand?
At Createeevity, we specialise in designing artist websites that promote and sell your work.
If you'd like to have a low-key, no-commitments required chat about how we can help,
book a FREE consultation
or
contact us.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Artist Statements and Bios
Should I write my artist bio and statement in first or third person?
Artist bios and statements are conventionally written in the third person, as if someone else is introducing you. This creates a professional distance and makes it easier to highlight your accomplishments without sounding boastful. For example, write "Jane Smith explores themes of urban decay" rather than "I explore themes of urban decay."
However, if you’re an artist using a personal brand strategy, meaning your audience is expecting you to talk to them directly, you may want to stick to using the first person on your website. Just be aware that you will probably need to have a third-person version on hand for sharing with galleries and others who will be presenting your work on your behalf.
How often should I update my artist statement?
You should review your artist statement at least once a year, or whenever you experience a shift in your artistic direction, style or inspiration. Your statement should evolve as your aritistry develops.
What's the biggest mistake artists make in their statements?
The most common mistake is using overly complex, jargon-filled, insider language that makes it really difficult to connect with your work. Your statement should be accessible to both art professionals and general audiences. A common misconception is that difficult language makes you sound more interesting. In the words of sales, however, a common saying is that “if you confuse, you lose”, which also holds true in art sales. Avoid pretentious language and focus on communicating your genuine intentions and processes clearly.
Should I include my artistic influences in my statement?
Mentioning key influences can provide valuable context, but do so sparingly and only when it’s actually relevant. Focus more on how you've developed your own unique approach. If you choose to mention influences, explain exactly how they shaped your work, rather than just listing names. You don’t want to be name-dropping big name artsists whose influences can’t be reckognized in your work.
How do I explain abstract or conceptual art in my statement?
When writing about abstract or conceptual work, focus on your process, intentions, and the ideas, themes or emotions you're exploring. Describe the experience you want your audience to have rather than trying to "explain" the meaning. Use concrete language about materials and techniques.
Can I get help writing my artist statement?
Absolutely. Many artists work with writers, editors, or art professionals to refine their statements. Although art coaches, gallery owners, and other artists can provide valuable feedback, it is crucial that the core ideas come from you. And… now that you mention it, here at Createeevity, we’ve helped a number of artists write artist bios and statements for their websites. Feel free to reach out for a quick chat.
How important is an artist statement for emerging artists?
For emerging artists, a well-crafted statement is particularly valuable. It helps curators, galleries, and collectors understand your work when you don't yet have an extensive exhibition history. A well-crafted statement can demonstrate your professional commitment and help you stand out from other early-career artists.
Chapters.
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