5.1: Appendix A- Artist Statements

What is an artist statement? 

An artist statement is text written by the artist that helps the audience understand the creative work. It can discuss an individual work, a series of works, or an entire artistic practice, and it often includes themes, content, influences, and/or process for the work. Artist statements can vary in length from one sentence to several paragraphs depending on the purpose and audience. 

Why write an artist statement? 

An artist statement accompanies your work in professional settings, essentially representing you and your work when you are not there. It is often required when submitting applications for exhibitions, grants, and jobs, and it should be available on your professional website.  

What does an artist statement include? 

In the artist statement, the artist describes themes (ideas, issues of concern), content (subject matter, visual imagery, symbolism, conceptual meanings), and form (material choices, process). It is also an opportunity for the artist to describe the creative conversation they are entering with the work by defining the cultural context in which the work should be viewed. Defining context is done by establishing relationships between the artist’s work and that of other artists, historically and contemporarily and by linking the ideas present in the work to a larger discourse (e.g., feminist, philosophical, political, psychological). 

Topics to address in your Artist Statement

• Artist’s intentions for that work. 
• Context in which the work should be understood. 
• Relationship between form and content. 
• Reasons artist chose the techniques and processes present in the work. 
• How the techniques, processes, and visual forms support the meaning and concepts in the work. 
• Reference and influences – ideas, cultural factors, other artists or artistic movements. 

Look at Other Examples 

Before writing an artist statement, it is a good idea to read the statements of other artists and compare them to the visual work. How well does their artist statement reflect the work? Does reading the artist statement deepen your understanding and appreciation of the work? What specifically do you think the statement does well? What specifically do you think is not so strong? 

How to write an Artist Statement 

Before writing your artist statement, think about the audience you are writing for and what you want your statement to say about you as an artist. 

To help draft your artist statement, consider the following questions: 

• What themes are present in your work? What ideas are you engaging with? What is the intended conceptual meaning? 
• What is the subject of your work? How does the visual imagery relate to the overall concept or theme? 
• What is the process (i.e., techniques, materials) for creating your work? How do the process and/or material choices relate to the overall concept or theme? 
• What is the context in which your work should be understood? What is the creative or scholarly conversation you are participating in? What artists, thinkers, and theories influence and inspire your work? 
• Why did you make this work? Why should the audience care about it? Why is the work important to you? 

Activity: Draft your Artist Statement 

Brainstorm keywords associated with your project and write them on note cards or sticky notes.

Group your notes according to the artist statement elements: 

• Themes 
• Content 
• Form 
• Influences 

Write an opening sentence for your artist statement. Think about the first line in the story of your journey as an artist. This is your opportunity to grab your audience’s attention.  

Then, use your notes to free-write a draft of your artist statement. 

Tips for Writing your Artist Statement

• Grab the reader’s attention with the first sentence. 
• Be succinct. 
• Give a hint about the why of the work. 
• Use the first person (I, me, my). 
• Avoid art jargon.

 Copyediting and Proofreading 

Remember that the artist statement is a public, textual representation of you and your work. Therefore, it is important to revise for clarity, edit for proper grammar, and proofread for a final draft. Try reading your statement out loud to yourself. It is a good idea to have someone who is not an artist read your statement, as they can help you avoid art jargon. Also consider visiting the University Writing Center.

Activity: In-Class Peer Review 

1. Draft a complete artist statement.  
2. Bring it to class and exchange it with other students.  

Questions for Peer Review:  

1. Does the artist discuss the main topics of an artist's statement?  
   • Theme  
   • Content  
   • Form  
2. Influences  
3. What topics are referenced in the artist's statement that might need further research or explanation?  
4. Are there questions you have about the artist's work that are not answered in the artist's statement?