What purpose does an artist statement serve? For some artists, it is a chance to express themselves in words, creating compelling descriptions about their philosophy and the emotional depth of their unique work.
For others, the artist statement is a frustrating annoyance. For example, one artist sent in a handwritten note to a show, stating, "I get paint on a brush and smear it on canvas. This is my technique." While this obviously lacks flowery language, it also is short of meaningful expression. In fact, it fails to communicate what an artist statement should communicate.
A necessary evil?
Many artists are under the mistaken impression that artist statements are meaningless. "It’s required, that’s all," said glass artist Chris McCarthy when I visited him at the Main Street Fort Worth (Texas) Arts Festival in April. "I wouldn’t post [my artist statement] if I didn’t have to."
"It’s a necessary evil," one 2-D mixed media artist told me. "[Show organizers] never even read them. Heck, they barely look at our slides. Besides, what I have to say about my art changes from hour to hour."
Some artists feel frustrated by a request for an artist statement; after all, artists are artists and not writers, right? But as a writer married to an artist, I hope, with this article, to help you see the value in developing an effective artist statement.
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