Artist Statement Guidelines

Our Standard Format

Our customers love hearing about you—so we feature your artist statement at the top of your Artist Profile page.

To give customers a great, consistent experience, we ask all of our artists to follow a standard format when writing their artist statements: four sections that focus on different aspects of your practice, plus a list of selected exhibitions, awards, and collections.

Within this framework, feel free to let your personality shine! Focus on what makes your work unique and why customers should get excited about it.

Note that all statements are subject to approval. Each statement will be reviewed by our merchandising and/or copywriting team, and may be lightly edited. We make every attempt to respect your wishes and retain your voice in this process.

Tips
  • Each section has a maximum length of 400 characters.
  • The first section, your Artist Quote, should be written in the first person ("I" and "me"). The other three sections, your Creative Statement, Technique, and Training and Education, should be written in the third person ("he/she/they" and "him/her/their").
  • We have a glossary of common art terms that we can link to in your statement. This can give customers more info about specific techniques without taking up space. To include a glossary link, let us know so that we can format it for you.
  • We encourage you to upload a profile picture to accompany your artist statement. Artist photos help customers put a face with a name, fostering a sense of personal connection.
  • You can also upload videos directly to your Artist Profile page. Customers love to see high-quality videos of artists at work.
  • To make updates to your statement in the future, email your changes to [email protected]—we'll take care of the rest.
Artist Statement Overview

Artist Quote
A compelling remark in the first person ("I create…"). This is the first thing customers will see: it should grab their attention and pique their interest.

Artist Statement
The "why" of your work. Writing in the third person ("she creates..." or "he crafts..."), give customers a sense of who you are as an artist and what your work is about.

Technique
The "how" of your work. Writing in the third person, describe the techniques and materials you use. We encourage you to include interesting details while avoiding overly technical explanations.

Training
Your background. Writing in the third person, describe how you got to where you are today. Include career milestones, relevant life experiences, and noteworthy biographical details.

Selected Exhibitions and Awards
This section is similar to what might be on your artist resume. You may list up to 5 total exhibitions and awards. We recommend prioritizing those that are the most recent and/or the most prestigious. Include exhibitions at museums, art centers, public galleries, and juried art shows. Do not include private gallery exhibitions.

Examples:
American Craft Council Show, Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, MA, 2016
Landscapes & Abstractions, Artful Living Gallery & Studio, Tucson, AZ, 2016

Selected Collections
This section is presented like your Exhibitions and Awards. Again, you may list up to 5 total collections. Include public institutions, businesses, corporations, etc. Do not include private collections.

Examples:
Maurine Littleton Gallery, Washington, D.C.
Lillstreet Gallery, Chicago, IL, 2015

For each entry, include the following details:

  • Name of exhibition, award, or collection
  • Event location/venue
  • City and state (or country, if outside the USA)
  • Year

Artist Statement Examples