Writing an Artists Statement

What is it exactly?

The artist statement is a written description of your work that informs the viewer of your artwork- think of it as a shortcut to understanding your what, how and why of the work.

Succinctly put by Vicki Krohn Amorose :

“An artist statement is a concise arrangement of words that acts as a bridge to connect your audience to your art.”

Amorose, Vicki Krohn. Art-Write: The Writing Guide for Visual Artists (p. 58). Luminare Press. Kindle Edition.

How do I approach it?

The artist statement is written in the first person (“I”, “My”), not using your name. For example: “I am a mosaic artist and work primarily with glass and stone “. For the MAANZ shows, the artist statement should specifically relate to the work you are submitting, rather than be a general statement about your process.

In it you can explore:

1. What: subject, materials, what the viewer can see, what it represents

2. How: materials, process, medium, technique, links between your process and your theme

3. Why: inspiration, story, how it interprets a theme, ideas, your focus, questions you might be asking, your vision, your experience, your discoveries, your beliefs, emotions, directions

These three areas inevitably overlap.

Take into account word limits to convey as much as you can with impact. Edit! It can be helpful to show it to someone or read it out aloud to see how it sounds and if you are getting your message across. Consider your audience carefully when writing.

For the MAANZ International, the artist’s statement will be considered along with the photographs of your work.

Make it count.

There are many guides and examples online but below are some prompts to help you get started:

In making this artwork I explored idea of ……..using…….

The process of ……allowed me to ……..

I use ……in my work because……..

The materials in this work allow me to …..

Barb Uhlenbruch

Exhibitions Coordinator 2024