“Why do I have to explain my art, can’t they just look at it?”
Of course they can look at it, but if you’re running away from writing an artist statement, you’re missing out on deepening the connection between the viewer and your work. And you should look at that and ask yourself why.
Knowing how to write an artist statement starts with understanding what they are and why they matter. A good artist statement is simply two or three plainly written sentences that add to the viewer’s experience of your work. The best artist statements will tell us what you make and why you make it. (No one really cares about your process, how long it takes you, or how long you’ve been doing it.)
Most galleries, grants, curators, and any other art professionals you deal with need their artists to provide an artist statement, along with a (separate) artist bio. It’s how they’ll understand, talk about, draw attention to, and attempt to generate interest in your work from viewers, critics, and collectors.
Besides, you owe it to your harried, distracted audience (you know, the people that you hope will appreciate and maybe pay hard-earned money your work) to meet them halfway. Which, btw, is also why titles are important. Probably never use “Untitled” – that’s supposed to be a technical term used by art historians out of necessity, not a statement used by artists out of cowardice, cluelessness, or pretension. And never use something like “Untitled – The Old Barn.” Oh, I’ve seen it! And it’s just silly. (Numbering your paintings is acceptable if you’ve contextualized it by working within a well-defined – well-titled! – series.)
We (your eager viewers) want to know what moves you to make art and especially how best to meaningfully understand and appreciate it. That’s all. Note, I did not say, “explain it.” Nope, you do not have to “explain your art.” What we actually want is to know is how to fully “see” it – how to enter into it. What helps us get there is knowing a little about what makes you tick and how your art reflects that. Here’s the true bottom line about artists’ statements:
Good art raises questions; good artist statements give just enough context to clarify them.
In fact, it’s extremely helpful to sit down periodically and write out your own explanation of what you’re doing and why, if only to better understand what you’re spending all those solitary hours toiling away doing.
A good artist statement answers the question, what’s in it for the viewer without explaining it away. For example, one of my favorite examples of a great artist statement is that of rockstar daily painter Duane Kaiser:
Duane Kaiser
Artist Statement
My subject matter tends to be those fragmentary passages that reside within the mundane – the in-between spaces of our lives that we see but often do not notice. For me, these paintings are about the pleasure of seeing; of being cognizant of the world around me and pushing to find an alchemy between the paint, my subject and the moment. I view each piece as being part of a single, ongoing work.
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Be like Duane: Be brief, be honest, be direct, and show that you’ve put the thought and meaning into your work that you surely have. Do not use cliched phrases borrowed from other artist’s statements. Do not start with your first art experience when you were six. Be an advocate for the work (not your life). Be the midwife of your work’s entry into the world. Be specific. Kaiser could have been vague and non-specific and written, “I am interested in capturing beauty in the mundane,” every word and phrase of which is a cliché. But he didn’t. Be like Duane. Do not write a bio-statement. Do not use art-school jargon. Use plain language to thoughtfully contextualize your work. Imagine yourself answering the question: “Honestly, why do you make art like this and why should I care?”
Kaiser’s artist statement checks all the boxes. I find another great example comes from glass artist Alison Sigethy.
Seemingly, sea creatures’ homes, but actually glass art by Alison Sigethy.
Alison Sigethy
Artist Statement
Getting outside is good for the soul. Through my artwork, I try to bring the outside in. While I make no attempt to portray actual plants or animals, I do want my creations to look like they could have lived or grown somewhere. Living with beautiful objects that pay tribute to the natural world reminds us to slow down and helps us reconnect with nature.
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Sigethy’s statement is masterful – a near-perfect example: it’s personable, brief, and packs a ton of energy. It immediately gets – and holds – our attention. Sigethy uses relatable phrases and ideas to even make the purpose behind her art – and why we should care – seem self-evident. The no-nonsense, conversational and personal tone pairs well with the direct, naturalistic approach of the work itself and ends strong by suggesting how the work can enhance the viewer’s life and how the artist hopes the work operaters in the world. It all boils down to Why you do it and why we should care.
P.S. If it wasn’t for her artist’s statement, I wouldn’t know Alison Segethy’s work, and she wouldn’t be here being introduced to the wide readership of Inside Art. Sit with that for a second if you still doubt the power of a good artist statement.
A final note: I’ve it on good authority that most decisions are not made based on an artist’s statement, nor are careers thus made or broken. It’s anecdotally true that artist statements are rarely read but used to vet the experienced artists from those who will be less professional, insufficiently experienced, or more difficult to work with.
So when brainstorming your own statement, just keep it simple, for everybody’s sake. Ask yourself:
- What’s your subject matter (and in what medium do you work. i.e. what are we looking at)?
- Why should we care? (I.e., What excites you about what you do?)
- How does your material and your content work off of each other?
- How would you describe those aspects of your work to a good friend?
Put it together in a few simply written, jargon-free sentences and that’s all you have to do. Honestly!
