In a nutshell, an artist’s biography is about instilling confidence. Image: Shutterstock.
Recently I participated in a bio writing workshop for artists, which was a bit like a career speed dating session – half hour slots to assess and review how artists had written their biographies.
Let’s get it clear: An artist biography is simply taking that shopping list of date-driven achievements – your Curriculum Vitae – and distilling it, ordering it, and massaging it into a couple of sexy paragraphs. It is not a flowery statement about what you make.
Gina Fairley is ArtsHub's Senior Contributor, after 12 years in the role as National Visual Arts Editor. She has worked for extended periods in America and Southeast Asia, as gallerist, arts administrator and regional contributing editor for a number of magazines, including Hong Kong based Asian Art News and World Sculpture News. She is an Art Tour leader for the AGNSW Members, and lectures regularly on the state of the arts. She is based in Mittagong, regional NSW.
Instagram: fairleygina
