What to Include in Your Artist Biography vs. Your Statement

Jul 18, 2025 #art marketing, #artist bio, #artist statement, #artist support, #creative career writing, #creative writing tips, #gallery submission tips, #how to write an artist bio, #portfolio writing, #professional artist tools, #what to put in an artist statement, #writing for artists

For many creatives, writing about yourself can feel harder than creating the art itself. Two of the most misunderstood—and frequently mixed up—pieces of artist writing are the biography and the statement. They serve different purposes, speak to different audiences, and yes, they need different content.

Your Artist Biography: The Who, Where, and What

Think of your bio as the press-friendly snapshot of who you are. It’s usually written in third person and answers practical questions:

Who are you?
Where are you based?
What kind of work do you create?
Where has it been shown?
What are your notable achievements?

✅ What to include in your bio:

Your name and location
Mediums you work with (e.g., oil paint, digital, ceramics)
Key exhibitions, awards, or publications
A brief note on your background (education or how you came to art)
Where your work has been seen or sold

❌ What to avoid:

Deep emotions or conceptual ramblings
Overly personal history (unless it’s directly tied to your art path)
Statements like “has loved art since they were 4”—focus on your career, not your childhood

Your Artist Statement: The Why and How

Now here’s where you tell the story behind the work. The artist statement is usually written in first person and helps the audience understand what motivates your creations. It’s less about you, and more about your work.

✅ What to include in your statement:

What themes or questions your work explores
Why you use the mediums you do
How you create (technique or process insights)
What inspires your current body of work
How you want people to engage with your pieces

❌ What to avoid:

Buzzwords that mean nothing (e.g., “transcendental juxtaposition of semiotics”)
Repeating your biography info
Long-winded or vague philosophical tangents

Think of It Like This:

🖼 Bio = your exhibition label
💬 Statement = your artist talk

They complement each other but serve very different purposes.

Final Thought

A well-crafted biography and a thoughtful statement are two of the most important tools in your creative toolkit. They help others see your work the way you see it—and open the door to more opportunities.

Want feedback on yours? Post it in the members’ forum and we’ll cheer you on!

By Abbie Shores

Abbie Shores is a British artist, writer, and arts community manager currently based in Manchester. Her creative work is inspired by countryside walks, dogs and horses, and a love of myth-infused storytelling. She is the founder of Our Arts Magazine and author of the Whispers of the Wolf fantasy series. As an autistic creator, she brings unique focus, depth, and insight to her work. Friends know her as Frankie—a nod to the warmth and quiet humour beneath her professional calm.