In the first installment of “The Killer Portfolio”, Angi Sullens, Eric Lofgren, and Judith Metzger gave some great advice for getting started with your portfolio. In this second edition, I would like to answer some more specific portfolio questions. For example, what is an artist statement/biography? Where do I get slides? How do I put it all together? These are important things to know about a portfolio. Here is a simple guide to assembling the staples of a portfolio.
The Artist’s Statement
As an artist, you will be required to sum up your theories, ideologies, history, practices and use of materials in a concise statement. This is an opportunity to describe your art and what it means to you. It can include your inspirations and what drives you to create, or the history of your growth as an artist. For example: “When I was a girl, I read The Lord of the Rings and there was no going back”. The artist’s statement is a personal thing. You can choose to reveal as much or as little about yourself as you like.
A helpful tip when writing your artist’s statement is to read the statements of other artists. This can give you a good idea of what is expected, and it is always interesting to see how others view their art. You will come across cheesy one-liners such as “My art is a window to my soul, and right now the window is closed,” and in-depth expose like the influences of the family sitcom on an artist’s paintings of leather recliners.
Your statement will probably be re-written a thousand times throughout your career. This is totally normal. Ideas change and artists grow, so the statement should reflect this process. Sometimes, you will be required to write different statements for different things. Whenever you’re involved with a specific project, a specialized statement to explain the thoughts behind it becomes necessary.
Learn more about writing your artist statement.
The Artist Biography (AKA: C.V. or Curriculum Vitae)
The biography is almost the same as a resume, tailored towards your career as an artist. It may include exhibitions, professional credits, job experience, education, articles, reviews and any other pertinent information. Your contact information is also a must. Keep it simple and straightforward. A single page is often all that is necessary.
It is very important to keep the information in your bio current. Always list your accomplishments, starting with the most current. It is not necessary to include everything. However, as your list grows, you can pick and choose a smaller list of credits.
