We get several questions about how to submit a biography or artist’s statement from our artists, and there are several sites out there which explain the process pretty well. This page has some good insights for the person trying to explain their art.
Additional considerations:
* Artists are artists, not writers, so think seriously about hiring a professional writer or editor, preferably one with an art background, to help you convey what you want your statement to convey in language that ordinary everyday people can understand.
* Make “I” statements rather than “you” statements. Talk about what your art does for you, not what it’s supposed to do for the viewers. This doesn’t mean you start every sentence with “I,” but rather that you respect people’s autonomy and allow them to respond to your art however they wish.
* At all times, give readers the option to agree or disagree with you. Never pressure them or dictate outcomes.
* Avoid comparative or evaluative comments that have been made about your art by third parties such as gallery owners, critics, collectors, or curators. These belong in your curriculum vitae. In your statement, they’re name-dropping; in your curriculum vitae, they’re testimonials.