This section includes:

• ​What is a Biography for Artists
• ​How to write a biography - for galleries
• How to write a biography - for artists
• Biographies of famous artists

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What is an Artist's Biography?
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The artist's biography (or bio) relates to the wider context of your life in general.

An artist's biography contains enough information for people to be able to relate to you as an individual. However a biography is not a resume - nor should it read like one.

It is NEVER long-winded or boring!
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KEY QUESTION: What do you want to say about yourself which is NOT contained in your artist statement or resume.

How to tackle your bio online

• Twitter: The short bio is the one you use for Twitter - make it snappy and try not to be the same as everybody else!
• Facebook: For Facebook you might use a slightly longer one. Keep it succinct and make people want to know more. Don't forget to provide a link for them to find out more.
• For an exhibition and your website - you need a longer biography which offers more detail. People want to know who is the person who made this art.

...and what does it contain?
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So, for example, it will contain such information as:

about the art - in brief 

• what you are known for - upfront - one sentence
• important facts about your art (medium / subject / practice / output)

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about the artist

• where you come from / where you live now
• what's your back story - share as much as you feel comfortable sharing
• something that enables people to connect with you (eg an interest)
• highlight a few key facts and features of your life
• a picture of you - make it a good one.

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How to write an Artist's Biography - for Artists
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You should be able to get a biography onto one side of A4

• How to Write the Perfect Artist’s Bio for Your Art Blog - Does your art blog have a page dedicated to you, the artist? Whether you call it an artist's bio or an about me page, it should be an essential part of your art blog. Here are 6 tips for creating the perfect, and ever-evolving, artist's bio
• How to Write a Bio That Gets Read - Lori McNee Artist - In this fast-paced world many people suffer from information overload, and understanding how to write a bio that gets read is more important now than ever.

• How to Write a Visual Artist Biography | eHow.com - How to Write a Visual Artist Biography. An artist's biography is, in many ways, a marketing tool for the visual artist. It helps viewers, curators and others understand the artist's approach and personal philosophy

On your website limit your Artist’s Biography to approximately 250 words or less.

Renée Phillips​

Some alternative perspectives on how to write a biography if you are a creative person

• Art Marketing Action: Work On Your Biography - Art Biz Blog
  Artists need biographies for grant applications, websites, and more. This provides a very simple approach to writing a bio.
• The Resume Is Dead, The Bio Is King :: Tips :: The 99 Percent
  Why writing a compelling personal bio is crucial to your career, and tips on how to craft one....here's a few key pointers for reinventing your bio as a story
• The Artist's Statement vs Biography | FineArtViews Blog by FASO
  Don't confuse an artist's statement with a biography. Many artists often combine the two into one document that lacks the intended focus. I've probably been guilty of this. They should be two separate documents with different purposes.
• Press Kit Fundamentals: Branding Yourself in Your Artist Bio and Beyond
  Consistent artist branding is a key marketing strategy for indie artist brand building. Tips for consistent artist branding through band press kits and artist bios (This is more about musicians than visual artists - however the points are good)

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How to write an Artist's Biography - for galleries
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The profile should be between 80 and 140 words. The ideal bio is ~120 words, though a tightly written 80-word bio is preferable to a longer bio that includes repetition and filler sentences
Artsy 

The place you are most likely to see a biography is either on a website or at a gallery or in an exhibition catalogue.

That means a gallery is going to:

• determine what people read about you
• work out how to describe you in summary for a label on a wall or the narrative about artists in a group exhibition

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A Gallery Bio needs to:

• be short and succinct (don't waste people's time)
• say what makes this artist distinctive
• tell a good story
• avoid artspeak
• provide cultural hooks in terms of where the artist comes from/lives/went to art school
• highlight the memorable - key facts collectors would want to repeat about an artist
• avoid a long list of accomplishments because nobody ever reads them
• reference the author of any praise for the artist rather than make unsubstantiated statements

REFERENCE - THE GALLERY PERSPECTIVE

• What We Learned from Writing 7,000 Artist Bios | Artsy - this is the gallerist's perspective on writing biographies for artists and includes three great tips for a bio which works and LOTS of practical tips for galleries with respect to formats and pitfalls to avoid
• Keys to writing your Artists's Biography - 


• How to Write an Effective and Professional Artist Biography | Light Space & Time Online Art Gall - An effective artist’s biography will not sell any art for an artist but it will be information that an artist will need to provide to any interested person and also, it is necessary information and is required for the overall sales proce

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Biographies of Famous Artists

 - ever wondered what the biography of a famous artist looks like?

The biographies of famous artists have typically been put together by managers, agents or galleries. Notwithstanding that, take a peek!

• Jeff Koons - Gagosian Gallery
  Artist page for Jeff Koons. Includes exhibitions, publications, editions and biography.
• David Hockney provides an illustrated chronology of his life - which is fascinating and always makes me want to read more
• This is James Gurney's Biography - note how the image of a smiling artist in his studio instantly makes him more friendly and accessible - before you've even read a word.

You can get away with this only if you are Vasari and the painter you are talking about is Raphael!

THE liberality with which Heaven now and again unites in one person the inexhaustible riches of its treasures and all those graces and rare gifts which are usually shared among many over a long period is seen in Raphael Sanzio of Urbino, who was as excellent as gracious, and endowed with a natural modesty and goodness sometimes seen in those who possess to an unusual degree a humane and gentle nature adorned with affability and good-fellowship, and he always showed himself sweet and pleasant with persons of every degree and in all circumstances.

​Vasari - Lives of the Artists - about Raphael

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INDEX

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