Crafting an Professional Artist Statement

When presenting your work publicly, whether through an exhibition, website, or photobook, the addition of an artist statement adds another critical understanding, helping the audience further understand and make sense of the work seen in front of them. An artist statement should both articulate and reflect on the key themes and concepts which underpin the work, drawn from the research and development made throughout the work. Clearly expressing a synthesis between context, critical aims, and methodology throughout. It should be more than a description of the work; it should be an enhanced personal insight into the creative processes, whilst leaving room for personal interpretation.

After attending an artist statement workshop at university, I came to the understanding that I as a photographer, can shape my own statement to reflect individuality of work. Within the workshop, I also came to understand the key concepts that are needed to be included to maintain a successful statement, those being:

Context: What is the work about? What broader theme (histories, theories, politics, commercial perspectives) Does it engage with? Providing background information and unpack any key ideas necessary for understanding the work.
Criticial Aims: What is your work trying to do, say or challenge? Does it reflect your intentions? What do you want the audience to take away from the experience?
Methodology: How have you made the work, why did you chose those particular methods? Are those methods appropriate?

Also, keep in the back of your mind:

Have you clearly described the work visually and conceptually?

Does your statement show a coherent connection between context, aims, and methods?

What aspects of your research or experimentation need to be included?

Are there any artistic, photographic, or curatorial influences that help frame your work?

Have you considered any social, ethical, or political concerns relevant to the project?

Gaining an insight into how to successfully create a statement allowed me to become more confident in defining and articulating my practice and the ‘why’ behind my work. Also, understanding that an artist statement cannot aim to explain everything, as this will take away from the work, but attempts to provide enough context to invite the viewer in, providing them the space to apply their own interpretations to the work showcased.

To conclude, there is a skill in successfully talking about your own practice, creating a space for an audience to understand the work and having the space to analyse and apply their own contexts to the content. An artist statement should feel personal yet open, serving as a voice when the artist is not there to speak.