An artist bio does more than simply list your credentials; it tells your audience who you are, what you do, and why they should care. It builds a connection between you and those who are interested in learning more. And if you’re selling your art or products related to your art, that connection can be what motivates a sale.
“People want to know what you’re about, what you support, and what you believe,” says Actively Black founder Lanny Smith on an episode of the Shopify Masters podcast. “Before they’re going to part with their hard-earned money to support your brand, they need to know who is behind it.”
If you’re the face or the artist behind a brand, a bio can clarify to customers who they’re supporting when they invest in your work.
Read on to learn more about what artist bios are, see artist bio examples from different Shopify merchants, and learn how to write your own.
What is an artist bio?
An artist bio is a short narrative summary of who you are, what kind of art you make, and your creative accomplishments. Generally speaking, it should tell your story as an artist, describe the genre(s) or style(s) of your work, highlight your biggest accomplishments, and reference any significant praise you’ve received. Artists use bios to promote their work, apply for funding, secure studio space, and introduce their work to galleries and museums.
Traditionally, an artist biography differs from an artist statement, which is usually in the first person and focuses more on the creative process, influences, and philosophy. However, in an ecommerce context, these two approaches are often combined into a single bio that introduces both the artist and the work.
Having an artist bio helps people connect to your creative identity and quickly understand whether your work resonates with them. It also helps potential customers understand the purpose of your work and what you hope to communicate or inspire. Similar to a business’s About Us page, your artist bio tells the story of your brand as an artist and helps build trust with your audience.
What should an artist bio include—and exclude?
Your artist bio should present your story and mission as an artist in an easily digestible format. It should introduce your art, walk through your creative journey, and point out your biggest successes. Here are the details to include when you write an artist bio:
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Your name. Specifically, your artist bio should include the name you use when you create and share your art. It is not necessary to tell readers what your birth name is or what other names you go by. Identify yourself as you would like to be referred to as an artist.
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Where you are based. Briefly establish where you are located to give people an idea of the environment in which you create. This is also helpful information for readers who may be interested in commissioning work from you or attending exhibitions or live events, if that is something you offer.
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What you do or make. Clearly spell out what you create. If you’re a ceramicist, identify whether your work is meant to be functional, aesthetic, or both. Identify your medium and what you make with it.
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Why you do what you do. Explain what inspires you and what you hope to achieve through your work. This helps readers learn more about your motivation and intent, which can allow them to appreciate your work from a more informed perspective.
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Who your audience is. State who your art is for. Clarify who your target audience is so that viewers within that demographic can quickly see themselves as potential supporters of what you do. This also helps potential commercial clients know if your intended audience overlaps with their target market.
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Educational experience. Reference any education or training you’ve received. This can include academic programs you’ve completed or apprenticeships. Only cite examples that are relevant to your artistic development, so if your bachelor’s degree is in biology, you can omit that unless it directly influences the creative work you do.
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Career highlights. Tell people where your work has taken you. Name exhibitions that have displayed your artwork, the businesses you’ve collaborated with, and the publications you’ve been featured in.
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Awards and recognitions. Talk about titles you’ve earned or prizes you’ve won, or if you’ve received any praise from a respected art critic. This lets interested readers know that the quality of your art has been externally validated.
With a limited amount of text to tell the story of your whole career and artistic development, knowing what to omit is just as important as knowing what to include. Here are some common mistakes to avoid when writing your artist bio.
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Irrelevant details. Unless something about your childhood directly informs your work, there is no need to go all the way back to the beginning. Edit your bio down to who you are, what you do, and where that has taken your career.
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Exaggerated claims. If you make stickers and one of your stickers was on a water bottle in the background of a photo used for a piece in The New Yorker, don’t say that your work was “featured in The New Yorker.” Stick to achievements you’re actually credited for.
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Filler language. Avoid using language as a method of hiding insecurity or unclear ideas. You can be expressive with your writing, but make sure you are using words correctly and prioritize having a clear message over trying to sound interesting or smart.
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Grammar or spelling errors. Your artist bio is how you represent yourself to the world. Having poor grammar or spelling mistakes in your artist bio can make you seem unprofessional or careless.
Types of artist bios
Artist bios appear in many different contexts, which determines what you include and the length and style of your writing. Each version of your artist bio should tell the same core story about you and your work, so readers have a clear picture of who you are, whether they check you out on social media or attend a gallery event of your work.
Below are common places to use an artist bio, along with tips on how to format each version.
Website
The artist bio on your website is typically around 150 to 200 words and is where you have the most freedom in what you choose to highlight and how you tell your story.
In addition to your personal and professional background, your website is where you can expand a little on your artistic mission and philosophy. Explain what style of art you make and who or what influences your work; highlight notable awards you’ve received, exhibitions you’ve participated in, or galleries that have featured your work. Show visitors what you create and why they should care and support your work.
Social media
Instagram’s bio character limit is 150, while TikTok and X allow 160 characters, so keeping your artist bio at around 150 characters ensures it works across platforms. This typically translates to about 25 to 30 words, meaning you need to condense your story down to the essentials.
Think of this as an ultra-short elevator pitch that quickly communicates who you are and what you create. Be direct and focus on the most important details about your work.
Gallery submissions
An artist bio for a gallery submission is typically 100 to 150 words and serves multiple purposes. It helps the creative director or applicant review panel understand your background and determine whether your work is a good fit for the gallery. Also, if your work is selected, the same bio may appear in exhibition catalogs, press materials, or other promotional materials.
Prioritize awards you’ve received, exhibitions where your work has been shown, press coverage, or other recognition that establishes your credibility. Highlight details that connect your work to the gallery’s aesthetic or mission and explain why your work is a good match.
Grant funding
When applying for grant funding from a studio or nonprofit organization, the length of your artist bio is usually specified in the application’s instructions.
As musician and Bonsound co-founder Gourmet Délice explains on an episode of the Shopify Masters podcast, grant applications should focus on conveying the artist’s core tenets and the message of their work.
“It’s really about the philosophy behind your art and what you want to do with it,” Gourmet says, “They don’t want to hear about streaming numbers or the size of crowds you’ve reached. They want to know, ’If we give you money, how are you going to bring your art further?’”
Focus on communicating the most authentic portrayal of you and your art.
5 artist bio examples
While writing your own artist bio, it can be helpful to see real examples of how artists introduce their work, communicate their mission, and highlight their experience in a short bio.
Below are artist bio examples from Shopify merchants, along with explanations of what each one does well.
Danny D’s Mud Shop
This artist bio from ceramicist Danny Dooreck, founder of Danny D’s Mud Shop, is clear and to the point. It highlights the artist’s inspirations—traditional tattooing, the American West, and quirky illustrations, mentions the products he sells—and the fact that he works without molds, which means each piece is one-of-a-kind.
At under 150 words, this bio describes Danny’s work, process, and achievements in a well-structured way that is easy for readers to follow.
Kassandra Thatcher
The website for sculptor Kassandra Thatcher’s studio is short and focuses on her philosophy. It introduces Kassandra, the materials she uses, her technique, and what she hopes to achieve with her sculptures. It also mentions that she is based in Los Angeles and New York, which lets interested commissioners and collectors on both the East and West Coast know that she is accessible.
At 55 words, the bio is concise and to the point. It’s serious and minimalist, rather than lighthearted and playful, and complements the minimalist aesthetic of the rest of the website.
Polychrome Goods
Merch and apparel company Polychrome Goods merges the traditional artist statement with a brand story on its About page. In the first paragraph, the artist introduces himself and his mission and discusses his inspiration. In the second, he discusses when the company was formed, where its products are stocked, and highlights press coverage in French Vogue.
Below this short bio is a longer story, where JM discusses his motivation behind starting the brand in greater detail, and then goes into personal details about his life—his partner, his dog, his love of travel and cooking, and even his martini recipe. Following the professional bio, it’s a behind-the-scenes look at the man behind the brand, almost similar to a personal Instagram page or a biographical Substack, and seeks to build a personal connection not just a professional one.
Sunny Beast
Illustrator Natasha Durley includes a well-written bio on the website for her brand, Sunny Beast. In just 137 words, the bio explains what Natasha creates, how she approaches her work, and where she’s based, and highlights several notable clients.
By citing reputable companies such as Apple, Samsung, and Anthropologie, as well as notable publications, Natasha cements her reputation as a visual artist with prior commercial success.
Debbie Bean
Stained glass artist Debbie Bean calls herself a “rainbow maker” on her Instagram artist’s bio. It’s a fitting and intriguing title, with rainbow emojis adding color and a short description adding context. Debbie conveys crucial information about her practice in one sentence, leaving the rest for readers to discover through the images and videos below.
Best practices for writing artist bios
The following best practices can help you write an artist bio that clearly communicates your medium, perspective, and experience making art.
Write in your authentic voice
Many guides recommend writing artist bios in the third person, which is the traditional format used for press releases or promotional materials. However, as seen in some of the examples above, using the first person on your website can create a more personal tone that resonates with consumers who want to connect with the person behind the work.
Whether you choose first-person or third-person narration, the perfect artist bio is one that feels authentic to you and reflects how you want to present yourself as an artist.
Be vulnerable
Instead of focusing only on promoting your accomplishments, try to share an honest perspective on your work and creative journey, especially in longer bios. Vulnerability can make your bio more memorable and help readers connect with your story.
Share your core values
Sharing your core values helps customers understand the purpose behind your art and what they are supporting when they purchase your work. Explain what motivates your creative process and what you hope your work will evoke or inspire.
Prioritize your story
While achievements and credentials are important, those details can often be highlighted more fully in a CV or résumé. Your artist bio should prioritize the narrative of your journey as an artist—what you create, what inspires your work, and what makes your perspective unique.
Focus on what makes you original and what you provide as an artist that is distinct from what everyone else is doing.
Artist bios FAQ
What is an artist bio?
An artist bio is a narrative summary of an artist’s style, medium, history, and accomplishments. Artist bios provide readers with a clear understanding of who the artist is, what they’ve done, and what they’ve achieved with their art.
How should I write the first sentence of my artist bio?
You should write the first sentence of your artist biography by telling readers your name and what type of art you make. You can do this in either first person or third person; the important thing is to write this in a voice that is authentic to you and your brand.
What should I include in my artist bio?
Your artist bio should include the highlights of your professional history and qualifications, what you create, and the ideas behind your creations. Mention any museums, galleries, or exhibitions that have displayed your artwork. Tell readers where you are based, especially if you are open to doing commissioned pieces or regularly show at local galleries.
