The Artist's Statement
The Artist's Statement is a text in which you describe the motivation behind your practice. Ideally it should offer the reader an insight into your creative concepts, the artistic processes and techniques you use, and the various and unique influences behind your art practice. It is usually about 500 words long, but this may be presented, in other circumstances, as an edited version of about 70 - 100 words.
The Artist's Statement is a clear informative piece of writing about why you have chosen to make the work you make, while expanding on the conceptual elements of your practice. The Artist's Statement is a very important and revelatory introduction to your practice and is most effective when it is true and original. Different versions of your Artist's Statement can be written or adapted for different situations and application procedures.
An Artist's Statement should include:
- the philosophical, sociological or theoretical tenets of your work - why you make the work and what interests you in creating artwork
- the media, materials, techniques and processes you use
- the way you like to work, how the work is produced, the processes required for its realisation, which can include collaboration, residencies, studio based practice etc
- specific methodologies or contexts that challenge and interest you
- references to time and place
- interesting links to other websites or texts, research being done, situating your practice academically or within contemporary art theory or practice
