Who are you and where are you from? What drives you to make Art? What makes you different or unique?
An artist bio should say more about you than just recapping your resume.
A few things you might want to include are:
• An anecdotal experience that defines who you are as an individual
• State reasons why you have decided to pursue art and/or certain creative medium(s) to work with • Which artists or art movements influences and inspires you
• Prevalent conceptual themes in your work
Writing an Artist Bio in the third person is common practice, since lots of publications will directly copy and paste it from your website when sharing your work. However, you might want to write one in your own voice (First Person) as well. That way you have a choice depending on what or where it is being used.
The first things you should do is outline the following (maybe use sticky notes):
- Collect and organize any courses you have completed. Don’t worry about the years commenced or completed.
- Write down keywords that you would use to describe your influences and put these aside. These can be art styles, people, or places.
- Write down why you do what you do as an artist, was it something you have known since you can remember? Was it a specific experience?
- Write down any key achievements you have had so far in your art career.
- Your name and where you live and where you typically work from
- What styles or mediums do you work in?
Artist template: (1st Person)
My name is [Insert your name], I was born in [insert town/city/country] in [year]. My first experiences as an artist were when [insert time period in life or formative experience].
My influences were [insert influences]. It was here that I realized that I wanted to pursue my career in this field.
I went on to study [insert course and institution] where I earned my qualifications in [insert field of study].
It was here that I further expanded on my knowledge in [insert fields of interest], where I [insert key achievements].
I work primarily in [insert mediums] and I currently work from [insert location] and [any other locations of interest].”
Examples:
Professional Summary (3rd Person)
Originally from Houston, Texas, Allison moved to Commerce, Texas in 2018. She received a BFA in Studio Arts from Texas A&M University - Commerce in pursuit of her passion for the visual arts four years later. In addition to using drawing and painting as an artistic medium, she has worked as a studio assistant at Noble Arts Center in Dallas, Texas.
Most recently, Allison won Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art’s 2020 Good ‘n Plenty award. She is also a recipient of the 2022 TAS Student Awards for Innovations in Imaging, the 2020 Quesada Research Award winner for her Young Mothers project and was TAMUC’s 2018 Scholastic Golden Key recipient for her portfolio of charcoal drawings.
Her work has shown throughout the US and has been featured in various publications, including The Arts Beacon, Lux Undergraduate Creative Review, Raising Arizona Kid, and more.
Another example of 3rd Person –
A Texas native, Allison decided to follow her passion for the arts by pursuing a BFA at Texas A&M University – Commerce, where she graduated with honors. It was here that Allison began to take an interdisciplinary approach to her creative practice, combining ceramic, drawing, and writing.
From growing up in a border town, to exploring the life after teen pregnancy, Allison uses drawing and writing to understand her personal experiences in relation to the world around her. Through art, she aims to shed light on complex social issues and visually communicate that which is often overlooked.
When she’s not creating her own work, Allison writes articles and produces videos to help others to achieve their goals in life. You can learn more by vising allsion.com.
Simple: 1st Person
I’m an artist who uses drawing and painting to tell visual stories.
Born and raised in Houston, Texas, I moved to Commerce, Texas to pursue my passion for the arts. In 2021 I graduated from Texas A&M University- Commerce with a Bachelor of Fine Art in Studio Arts.
Now I live and work in Dallas, Texas with my partner and our cat, Tabby.
In my free time, I love participating in the DFW’s flourishing art community and bike riding on trails in nearby parks. To learn more, visit my website: allison.com
