What is an Artist Bio and An Example of An Artist Bio Outline

An artist bio is an essential part of any artist’s portfolio. It offers a unique opportunity to share information about your artistic background, style, and process with potential customers and fans, as well as a way to establish your credibility. In this post, we’ll explore what an artist bio is and cover an example of an artist bio outline that you can use to create a professional, compelling bio for yourself.

What is an Artist Bio?

An artist bio is a short, simple piece of text that gives a background into who you are, why you began creating, and a general timeline of how you got to where you are now in your art career. Some artists like to throw in some personal facts or details about their interests or families. You can get creative with it, but basically it is a short writing for your clientele and partners (galleries/designers/etc.) to read to get a better idea of who you are as an artist.

A Bio Vs. a Statement

I️ shared what a bio is above, but some of you might be asking, but what is the difference between a bio and an artist’s statement. People may have differing opinions on this, but as a general rule, I️ view a bio as a short paragraph (longer if requested) about who you are and your background as an artist. I️ believe a statement is an in depth look into why you create what you create.

Ex: A bio could share about your schooling, background, why you are drawn to your medium, etc. In contrast, a statement would explain why you focus on the subject matter that you do. a bio shouldn’t have to change that often, whereas a statement might change from collection to collection.

*Sometimes a statement and bio can be combined. If an application just asks for one, but asks for a higher word count, consider combining the two.

The Components of a Professional Artist Bio

This is simple, you should introduce yourself, share information about your background and how that background led to where you are in your art career today, and then sprinkle in some relevant personal information that can make your audience connect with you more. A successful bio allows your ideal customer to relate to you, so I️ recommend thinking about them and your brand when writing. You also should consider including any accolades or milestones that might make you stand out and give you more credibility in the crowded art space.

An Example of an Artist Bio Outline

If you are writing a bio for your site and general outreach purposes, I️ don’t think it needs to be more than a paragraph. Although, there are some cases that might require a lengthier bio. First, If you are given a specific word count in an application or call for artists then you will want to meet that word count. Second, if you are applying to a project where your background is relevant and might help you to get accepted than you might consider including a longer bio.

An example of this might be an art fair for female artists who immigrated to America. In this case, your background and bio might be very important to the person judging your application and your story might be intertwined with the artwork itself.

Enjoy this example of an artist bio: (an old bio of mine)

Hayley Price’s love of art has led her to across the east coast and around the world to seek inspiration from natural landscapes. She has continued to improve her craft through an artist residency at Cow House Studios and through her studies of Fine Art at Washington and Lee University. She gathers stories and memories from every place she goes and each is in turn reflected in her work. She continually strives to learn more about the art and design world and seeks inspiration from her ever-changing surroundings. Hayley now focuses her time building up her gallery, The Scouted Studio, coaching other artists through The Art Coaching Club platforms, and pursuing her own artistic passions.

Tips for Crafting an Artist Bio

Now that you know all about a bio, it is time to write you own. Everyone has their own writing practices, but here are my general tips: start with an idea dump, break that brainstorm into bullets, start to craft that into a paragraph, get concise and cut anything irrelevant, have a friend proof and give their opinions. Once you do all of these steps you are likely to have the perfect bio!

An artist’s bio is an important tool for telling your audience more about you. An effective artist bio should highlight the artist’s background, interests, and tell the story of who they are. By following the example of an artist bio outline provided in this post, you can create a professional and compelling artist bio for yourself.

Call to Action: If you need help crafting an artist bio for yourself, consider signing up for a 1:1 session today!