Tackling the Artist Resume

by Sid Bailey

Whether you're tackling your artist resume for the first time, or updating a resume that you've managed to avoid for years thanks to a well-honed talent for procrastination, make sure that you list only the most relevant and impressive details. For the purposes of applying to galleries or posting on your website, think of your resume as a Superbowl commercial, and stick to the things that make you marketable as an artist: you want to catch a gallery's attention quickly, and keep their attention by not overwhelming them with information overload. In other words, try not to exceed three pages in length (this is the difference between a resume and a c.v. or curriculum vitae -- the latter, used mostly for academic posts, includes all of your relevant information).

Artspan Artist Laura Benett's online resume and bio:

http://laurabennett.artspan.com/mbr_bio.php

Make sure to include the following categories: name and contact information (always at the top of the resume), education, exhibitions (see note below under "Exhibitions" on the order of these two items), honors/awards, bibliography, publications, professional affiliations, and related professional experience. Other relevant categories to include, if applicable, include commissions, collections (list public and corporate collections only), lectures and talks, conferences and symposia, or exhibitions curated.  If you have nothing to list under any of the categories, leave the header out.    List the information beneath each category beginning with the most recent.  For examples of  proper formatting of details and citations, the College Art Association (CAA) has an excellent guide. 

• Name and Contact Information
  Make sure to use your professional name, rather than a pseudonym.
  Include your address (if you have a studio, use this address), phone number (both home and studio), email, and website.

• Education 
  List education by school, degree, and year.  Listing your major is optional: often artists choose not to list their major, especially if their work is interdisciplinary, and most curators or directors don't consider that information critical.  Workshops and classes taken at respected institutions, or with well-known instructors, can also be listed in this category, but don't include every seminar or workshop you've ever attended! 

• Exhibitions 
  If you have a long exhibition history, separate into two sections, "Solo" and "Group," and you may want to tailor to those exhibitions most relevant to the gallery or curator you are currently approaching.  If you are editing any listings out, your heading can be "Selected Exhibitions."  Resist the temptation to include charity auctions or other special events to which you've donated work, unless the event was juried or by invitation.     Important note: If you have extensive exhibition experience or your education does not relate to your art career,  it is recommended to place the Exhibitions section first under your contact information, with Education at the very bottom for easy reference.  This is an accepted and recognized good practice. 

• Honors/Awards
  This section is for prizes, grants, fellowships, residencies, scholarships, and any other honors you have been awarded.

• Bibliography
  List any press coverage starting from the most recent. Be sure to include online articles/reviews written about your work in this category, as well as print publications and broadcast media. Again, be consistent in style.  Include the title of the publication (in italics), the title of the article (in quotes), the author, and the publication date.

• Publications
  This section refers to articles, essays, or books that you have authored.

• Professional Affiliations
  If you are a member of any professional organizations related to your art career, whether local or national, list these here.

• Professional Experience
  List important professional experience relevant to your career as an artist, including faculty positions or classes taught as an artist.     

Keep in mind that there are different considerations for two types of resume:

For a resume that will be printed or emailed, the accepted best practice is to submit on white or neutral background; this is not the place to show off clever layouts if you wish to be taken seriously for an exhibition.  Tastes in design vary, so you don't want to run the risk of a gallery not taking time to look at your artwork file because they dislike the look of your resume design!  (Note: This advice is for fine artists; if you are a graphic designer or illustrator, by all means show off your visual flair.)   Do include a good amount of white space, as well as bolded headers and an easily readable font to allow for easy scanning of the information.  Occasionally an artist will use an image of their artwork in the header area, and this is absolutely fine if you are certain your work is a perfect fit for the gallery or curator you are sending it to.  If you aren't sure and you want to make sure they delve deeper and review all of your art, don't include an image.  

For your online resume, you have more leeway for creativity in format and image inclusion, but make sure that you remain consistent throughout. Once you land on a particular style, stick with it.  

Finally, never send in or publish a resume without proofreading! If you're going to dazzle someone with the impressive list of exhibitions you've snagged over the years, make sure they won't be stumbling over typos along the way.

Following are some examples of excellent online resumes: 

Artspan Artist Pamela Hadley's online resume and  bio:

http://pamelahadley.artspan.com/mbr_bio.php

Artspan Artist Tom Ryan's online resume and bio: 

http://tomryanwatercolors.artspan.com/mbr_bio.php