Artist statement

An artist statement is usually about a specific body of work or practice over a period of time, or it can track your career to date. Ideally it offers insights into the concepts, processes, influences and the main sphere of your work. It is usually about 500 words long and may be offered as a more tightly edited version of about 70 words. It is meant to be clearly informative about the conceptual elements of your practice. The artist statement is an important entry point into your practice and is most effective when honest and offering explanation around big concepts. A different artist statement can be written or adapted for different situations and applications.

An artist statement can include:

• Philosophical, sociological or theoretical tenets of your work
• Medium - the process and techniques you use
• The way the work is produced, the processes of realisation, which can include collaboration
• Specific methodologies or contexts
• Reference to time
• Interesting linkages, research and sites of inspiration

Please refer to the Visual Artists infopool for more information.