How to Write an Artist’s CV

Recently, I was made aware of the existence of artist CVs, a concept distinctly separate from the typical curriculum vitae. This alluded me, likely because my own career aspirations are directed towards art restoration and conservation, rather than the path of a practicing artist so I have not found a need for an Artist’s CV in the past. Despite this divergence in professional interests, the notion of an artist CV piqued my curiosity, prompting a deep dive into its structure, purpose, and significance. This exploration, born out of personal intrigue, has yielded insights that I believe could be beneficial to others who might be unfamiliar with this specialized professional document. Hence, I wish to share my findings on the topic, highlighting the distinctions between an artist CV and a conventional CV, and underscoring its critical role within the art community.

Overview of Conventional CVs vs. Artist’s CVs

A conventional CV is an extensive document detailing an individual's educational background, professional experiences, skills, and notable achievements. Its utility spans various industries, aiming to offer a detailed overview of a candidate's qualifications and professional journey. The document is designed to facilitate an evaluator’s understanding of a candidate's suitability for specific roles, focusing on a chronological progression of career and educational milestones, as well as relevant competencies.

In contrast, the artist CV caters exclusively to those in the creative arts sector, such as visual artists, performers, and writers. It is crafted to showcase an artist's professional engagements within the creative field, deliberately omitting unrelated professional experiences to concentrate on artistic pursuits. Essential elements include exhibitions, publications, commissions, awards, residencies, and collections featuring the artist's work. The artist CV aims to highlight the artist's active involvement and accomplishments within the arts community, serving as a vital tool for conveying an artist's professional identity to galleries, curators, collectors, and grant committees.

Content and Structure of the Artist CV

The artist CV differs in structure and content prioritization, aiming to prominently feature relevant artistic achievements. Essential sections include:

• Personal Information: Typically written at the top of your CV, include: Full name, contact details and website (only include your social media/website if its directly related to your practice - DO NOT advertise personal social medias)

  Example: Rhiannon Piper, UK.
  info@rhiannonpiper.com | www.rhiannonpiper.com

• Education: Includes formal and informal art education, providing context to the artist's background. This is not as comprehensive as a typical CV, it is typical to only include relevant arts related education - most recently completed education at the top.

  Example: Bachelors of Fine Art, University of Leeds, 2024

  Diploma in Art & Design, Leeds Arts University, 2021

  If you have mentored under an artist rather than received any formal education you can lists this under a heading called ‘Mentorships’

• Exhibitions: Lists solo, group, and juried exhibitions with venues and dates - begin with the most recent. If you have an upcoming show you would like to list - list this as (forthcoming). Make sure to list solo and group exhibitions separately.

  Example: 2024, Sardines (Forthcoming), Project Space UK

  (wink. wink. nudge. nudge…. keep an eye out for this upcoming show…)

• Bibliography/Publications: Cites where the artist's work has been featured or reviewed. This could be articles, interviews or reviews of your art work. If its in an article then it should include the author, title, publication, volume, date and page number (if relevant).

  Example: Piper, Rhiannon, How to Write an Artist’s CV, RPA Studio, 2024.

• Collections: Lists public and private collections that include the artist's work. If listing museums, agencies or corporate collections you could list them just as their name i.e. ‘National Portrait Gallery’. Seek permission before referencing the name of the private owner of your work in your CV. DO NOT list the name of a private collector without permission - I would avoid listing them unless they are publicly well known as a collector (don’t list your mother who still has your doodle from year 3 on the fridge…)

• Honors and Awards: List artistic achievements and awards specific to your practice.

  Example: 2024, Awesome Award of Awesomeness.

• Residencies: Lists artistic development opportunities such as residencies you’ve attended in your CV.

  Example: 2024, Studio residency, ‘enter location here’, UK

• Commissions: Lists significant commissioned works, this could include large scale projects for companies etc or private commissions. Try to avoid repetition between here and the collections section.

  Example: 2019, Pheonix, RQSS

Strategic Importance of the Artist CV

For artists, the creation and refinement of an artist CV are crucial steps in effectively presenting their professional narrative and artistic identity. The document is not merely a list of accomplishments but a strategic tool that influences career opportunities and professional growth. A well-composed artist CV can significantly enhance an artist's prospects for securing exhibitions, gallery representation, and participation in art fairs and residency programs. Furthermore, it is integral to an artist's marketing and branding efforts, contributing to a coherent professional image that appeals to the art community and the public.

This is not a comprehensive guide as there are many different ways in which professional artists approach writing a CV, however, this is a good template. I would highly recommend looking at artist’s CVs on their personal websites, or gallery websites (as they occasionally publish CVs).

Hope you found this useful! Hoping to revisit some more art history next week - any suggestions?