Art Business Info. for Artists
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​Why you need an Artist's Statement

An artist's statement explains your work and how you approach it when you're not there to speak about your work.

Organising your thoughts in an artist's statement can give you the confidence to engage others effectively when you meet them and present your work in a meaningful way.
​

Katherine Tyrrell - reworking Paul Turounet's words about statements for photographers

Here are just some of the reasons why you need an artist statement - in alphabetical order
  • Application for a Graduate Programme at Art School
  • Application for a Teaching position
  • Approaching a Gallery
  • Art Project Proposal
  • Artwork in an Exhibition
  • Artwork on the Internet
  • Biography
  • Bio for a Magazine article
  • Exhibition Catalogue
  • Exhibition Proposal
  • Curator Proposal
  • Entry Form for a Juried Competition
  • Grant Proposal
  • Guidance for Exhibition Reviews - and Reviewers
  • Introducing yourself to prospects
  • Introducing you as a Lecturer
  • Press Release
  • Promotional Brochure / Tool
  • Public Speaking Opportunities
  • Talking to Clients at a Private View
  • Sales Presentation by an Agent
  • Writing a Letter about your Art
  • Your Artist's Blog
  • Your Verbal Introduction
  • Your Website

I have found that it is mostly artists who read these artist statements, in order to see how other artists write them and what kinds of things they say about their work.
Christopher Addison, director of the Addison/Ripley Gallery in Washington, D.C

Views about why you need an Artist Statement
​

Thinking about not creating an artist's statement?

  • 6 Ways Your Artist Statement Can Work for You | Artsy Shark
    A strong, well-composed artist statement helps you create effective marketing by sharing your story and ideas with prospective collectors.
  • 16 Ideas for Repurposing Your Artist Statement - Art Biz Blog
    Alyson Stanfield provides 16 ideas for repurposing the words you worked so hard on for your artist statement.
  • Your Artist Statement Is Like A Coconut - Art Biz Blog
    Articulating your art - giving it the consideration it deserves - should be a priority. It's not just the final product that will be of benefit. It's the process you work through to get to it.
  • How to Write an Artist Statement - Explaining Your Art | ArtBusiness.com Your Artist Statement: Explaining the Unexplainable Q: Why do I have to write an artist statement? It's stupid. A: Artist statements are not stupid; they're more like essential. And you don't have to be a writer to write one
  • Conscientious | Defining one's work - On Statements - RECOMMENDED: an excellent review by Joern Colberg of the practical implications of the two classic reasons offered for NOT doing an artist statement. Plus other pitfalls and perspectives on the reasons for creating an artist's statement
  • Conscientious in limbo: Defining one's work (continued)
    RECOMMENDED: a follow up post to the above and the comments it received. This is is a post that neatly and very smartly summarizes what I called the refusenik approach
  • Daniel Grant: Are "Artists' Statements" Really Necessary? - Clearly, there are two issues here: The first is whether or not to include an artist statement as part of an exhibition or in a packet of slides sent to a dealer; the second is how to conceive of, and write, a statement
Another fairly large group of people sees statements as little more than “bullshit” (a term regularly used in emails sent to me) put out by gallerists to make a quick buck (let’s call them the cynics).
Joern Colberg

BACK to: How to Write an Artist Statement
NEXT to 
  • What is an artist statement?
  • How to write an artist statement (TIPS)
  • The language of an Artist's Statement - serious and humorous
  • What an Artist's Statement should contain - What to include and leave out
  • ​Examples of Artist Statements - including what famous artists do

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This website aims to provide a compendium of resources about the art business for artists. Please read "PLEASE NOTE"

It helps artists learn how to do better at being business-like, marketing and selling their art and looking after their financial security.
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  • Home
    • Art Business Information Index
  • NEWS
  • PRACTICE
    • Starting Out - Tips
    • Being a Professional artist >
      • Working Lives of Professional Artists
      • Artists' Side Hustles
      • Artists' Residencies
      • Artists Unions
    • Best Art Business Books
    • Learning Opportunities >
      • Art Schools in the UK
      • Art Business Courses
    • Image Management for Artists >
      • How to photograph art
      • How To Scan Artwork
      • How to back up image files
    • Law for Artists >
      • Legal Matters
      • Data Protection for Art and Artists
      • Brexit Guidance for Art and Artists
    • Business Management for Artists >
      • Risk Management for Artists
      • How to spot Art Scams / Fraud
      • Life in an Art Market Recession
      • Coronavirus COVID-19 and Art
  • MARKETING
    • How to write an Artist's Statement >
      • What is an Artist Statement?
      • Why you need an Artist's Statement
      • TIPS How to write an artist statement
      • The Language of an Artist's Statement
      • What an artist statement should contain
      • Examples of Artists Statements
    • How to write an Artist's Resume or CV >
      • Social Media summaries
      • CV for Artists
      • Resume for Artists
      • Biography for Artists
    • How to sign a painting, drawing or fine art print
    • Business Cards for Artists
    • How to write a press release for an artist
    • The Private View Invitation
    • Publicity for Juried Exhibitions
    • Websites for Artists >
      • Why websites matter
      • Options for Websites
      • Web content for Artists
      • Web design for artists
      • Keeping Google Happy
      • Writing for the Web
    • Image & Video sizes for Social Media Sites
    • How to be mobile-friendly
  • SELL ART
    • Trading Law & Regulations for Artists (UK)
    • E-commerce for artists
    • Art Exhibitions & Competitions >
      • Juried Exhibitions & Art Competitions
      • Juried Art Exhibition Checklist for Artists
      • How to cost a juried exhibition entry
      • How to make labels for an art exhibition
    • A Guide to Art Agents and Consultants
    • A Guide to Art Dealers & Galleries >
      • How to find the right gallery
    • The Artist-run Gallery
    • The Vanity Gallery
    • Art Fairs
    • Alternative Options for Exhibitions
    • How to Sell Art from Home
    • Open Studios
  • FRAME ART
    • List of Recommended Picture Framers
    • Conservation Products
    • Framing for open exhibitions and art competitions
    • Framing Videos
    • How to hang a picture
  • SHIP ART
    • How to pack artwork >
      • How to pack and ship pastel paintings
    • Packaging materials
    • How to ship art internationally >
      • Rules of Origin
      • Export Licences for Cultural Goods
    • How to ship art to exhibitions
    • How to mail art - Post & Parcel Services
    • UK & Ireland: Art Transport Services
    • USA Art Transport Services
  • COPYRIGHT
    • Copyright and artists' rights
    • BASICS: Copyright Infringement and Fair Use
    • How to protect artwork online
    • How to do a reverse image search
    • What to do about copyright infringement - for artists
    • Global Conventions on copyright >
      • Copyright in the UK
      • Copyright in the USA
      • Copyright in Canada
      • Copyright in Australia
  • MONEY & TAX
    • How to work out profit from an art sale
    • How to Price Your Art >
      • How important is price when buying art?
      • Options for Pricing Art
      • Terminology and Formulas for Pricing Art
      • Art Experts on Pricing Art
      • How artists price their art
      • The price of affordable art
    • Payments to Artists >
      • Paying Artists
      • How to create an Invoice
    • VAT for Artists
    • Tax Tips for Artists >
      • Tax on prize money
      • UK Tax Tips for Artists
      • UK: Self-Assessment Video Tips
      • USA Tax Tips for Artists
      • Ireland: Tax for Artists
      • Australia: Tax Tips for Artists
    • Insurance for Art and Artists >
      • Insurance for Art Teachers
      • UK Insurance Policies for art and artists
      • USA & Canada: Insurance Policies for Art and Artists
    • Artists' Grants & Scholarships
    • Retirement and Pensions for Artists
    • The Art Legacy >
      • Estate Planning for Artists
      • Estate Planning for Art Collectors
      • Famous Artists Estates
      • Artwork Inventory
      • After the Death of an Artist
      • Copyright and Resale Rights after Death
      • Art and Inheritance Tax
  • About + Help
    • Would you like me to help?
    • Privacy & Cookies Policy
    • Contact