Forget the Resume: How to Write an Artist Bio People Actually Care About

Let’s be honest: writing about your own art is the worst. It’s significantly harder than actually making the work. Most of us default to a dry list of dates and locations because it feels safe, but here’s the truth—nobody cares where you went to middle school.

When someone clicks on your “About” page, they aren’t looking for a CV. They’re looking for a reason to care about your work. They want to know the person behind the canvas. Here is how to write a bio that feels human, not robotic.

1. Kill the “Born and Raised” Intro

Unless you grew up in a very specific environment that directly dictates every brushstroke you make, skip the biography of your birth.

Start with the obsession. What is the one thing you’re trying to figure out through your art? If you paint portraits, don’t tell me you use oil paint; tell me you’re obsessed with the way a person’s expression changes when they think they’re alone. Lead with the “why,” and people will stick around for the “what.”

2. Talk Like a Person, Not a Textbook

The biggest mistake artists make is using “International Art English.” You know the words: juxtaposition, liminality, paradigm. Unless you’re applying for a PhD, leave those in the dictionary.

If you use words in your bio that you’d never use while grabbing a beer with a friend, delete them. If you describe your work as “exploring the intersection of duality,” you’ve already lost 90% of your readers. Just tell us what you see and why you’re making it. Keep it grounded.

3. The “Goldilocks” Length

People have the attention span of a goldfish on a caffeine high.

• The “Elevator Pitch” (1 sentence): For your Instagram profile.

• The “Short & Sweet” (1 paragraph): This is your bread and butter. About 100–120 words. It’s enough to catch interest without feeling like a chore to read.

• The “Deep Dive”: Keep this for your website, but even then, keep it snappy.

4. First Person vs. Third Person

There’s a weird rule that bios must be in the third person (“Jane does this…”). While that’s great for a gallery wall, it can feel cold on a website.

• Use Third Person for press releases or when someone else is introducing you.

• Use First Person (“I”) for your website or newsletter. It’s more intimate. It says, “I’m a human being, and I made this for you.”

5. Show Your Scars (A Little)

A list of awards is great, but a story about a failure that led to a breakthrough is better. Did you spend ten years as a corporate accountant before picking up a camera? Did you move across the world with nothing but a sketchbook? Those details make you relatable. People buy art from people they feel they know.

6. The “Out Loud” Test

This is the most important step. Once you’ve written your bio, stand up and read it out loud to an empty room. If you stumble over a sentence or feel embarrassed saying a certain phrase, it means it’s not authentic. Rewrite it until it sounds like you talking.

The Bottom Line: Your bio isn’t a legal document. It’s an invitation. Make it warm, keep it honest, and don’t be afraid to let a little of your personality leak onto the page.