Jan 22nd, 2021 • 6 minute read
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#CollectorEducation Series: Artist Bios
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A portfolio of work––which nowadays exists mainly as the artist’s website––is undoubtedly the main qualifier for understanding and appreciating an artist’s talent. But does a folio truly encompass all that is to be learned and understood about an artist’s qualifications? When it comes to collecting and investing our hard earned dollars, perhaps not.
So where can budding collectors turn to for gaining important insights into their possible investment?
Turns out, artists have resumes just like everybody else––they just look a little different. That bio you see at the top of each artist’s profile page is a little taste of what we’re talking about. This bio contains crucial nuggets of information that can help any savvy collector gain insight on where an artist has been and where they are likely heading.
With that said, I think we can all admit to ourselves that when we see that block of text on an artist’s profile page next to their photo, we get bored immediately and choose to either quickly skim it or, more likely, skip it all-together and jump down to the good stuff––the gorgeous images. Isn’t that what we came here for, anyway?
But there is a strategic reason we’ve placed that seemingly stuffy, “gosh, this is really in my way” text up at the top of the page for you––no, it’s not because our designer gains a sadistic pleasure from annoying you by making you scroll to see the images––but, rather, it’s because it contains really important, helpful, insightful information for you to devour for your own benefit.
So what exactly can we learn from these bios? In this weeks #CollectorEducation Article we will focus on unpacking all the information that can be found within an artist bio and deciphering what each means to us as collectors.
Artist Statement
An artist statement is a general introduction to the artist’s body of work and/or a specific project that can often be found within our artists’ bios. It discusses both the more overarching themes of the artwork as well as outlines more specifics around materials and techniques.
So if you have ever said to yourself, “Wow, I really like this work, but I wish I knew more about what the artist is thinking while they make this or what their intentions are”, looking to the bio for a quick artist statement can be a really great place to start. More often than not, the artist has provided some really insightful information for you to learn more about the work they make. All this information is intended to help you better understand and appreciate the work on a deeper level.
Even more, many of our artists have taken the time to write quick, thoughtful statements about individual pieces within their portfolio. If you are ever curious about a specific piece and want to learn more about it, navigating to it’s portfolio page may reveal a treat of really fun, ‘behind the scenes’ information.
Education
Like for many trades, professions, and craftsman, understanding where a person studied, trained, and/or learned their set of skills and knowledge is an important factor when hiring someone to do a job. Artists are similar in this regard. Although a formal education in the arts does not mean better skills over someone who did not receive a formal education, it does emphasize the artists commitment to honing their craft.
Studying art, especially at a master’s level, means an artist has gone through the rigorous coursework, engaged in many brutal and poignant critiques, as well as produced bodies of work via a thesis ‘important’ enough to achieve a degree. An artist’s educational experience is almost always provided for you in their bios. This is easy to find information that can provide more clarity on the artist's expertise.
A little guide for understanding the different Studio Art Degrees:
[A BA vs BS is only about how the particular institution delegates their credits and has no difference whatsoever.]
Show History
It is important to understand an artist's experience beyond just formal education or training. As with any resume or job application, we want to see what a creator has in terms of ‘real world experience.’ What exactly does this mean for an artist?
When looking at where an artist has studied and shown their work––whether in solo or group shows or juried exhibitions––it is important for understanding whether the artistic community believes in their art. For this reason, all shows are important; gallery shows are important and museum shows are even more elite. This is all incredibly helpful information for understanding how committed an artist is and where they currently stand within their artistic career, as well as how successful the community views them and their art. The more show experience, the more you can understand that others have also invested in this artists collection and the more you can feel secure in your investment.
Collections
There’s Angie’s List, there’s Yelp, Google Reviews, and Amazon Reviews––all these programs are designed to help us decide on which company to hire or which product to purchase based on recommendations and reviews. Nothing as large scale exists like this for artists, however, there is something that can help, though somewhat tangentially. Sometimes, though rarely, an artist might provide a list of some of the prestigious collections their work is part of.
What does that mean? Well, if an artists work was purchased by a prestigious and experienced collector and/or institution it could help us understand this artist’s work as having received a ‘stamp of approval’ from those who are actively engaged in investing in art. People who ‘know what they’re talking about’, people we might feel confident in following suit. Ultimately, it can provide helpful insights into feeling more confident in your potential purchase and investment.
Living/Working Locations
Another bit of useful information you can find in the Artist Bio is where the artist lives and works. If you are interested in supporting and engaging with local artists, this is an easy resource for discovering who those artists might be. Supporting local is always a wonderful way to show support for your community and artists are certainly within that realm. Purchasing artwork close to home also allows you to do a studio visit with the artist––something we always encourage!
More Information on Art in Res
While the Artist Bio can provide some, much, or all of the information outlined above, we understand you may still be interested in learning more. That’s great! We want to encourage your exploration, engagement, and research as much as possible, which is why we have provided you with even more sources for gathering helpful and insightful information about our artists.
After reading through the bio to the bottom––rather than scrolling past ;)––you conveniently land at a collection of curations and studio visits. These curations are our Art in Res virtual curations that the artist has had work selected to be shown in and is a great resource for learning all the different ways we can look at, engage with, and have dialogue around their work. The studio visits provide a thorough, thought-provoking deep dive into the artist’s practice and how they think about and develop their work. Both are wonderful resources for learning even more about the artists and their work––we strongly encourage you to click, read, and enjoy!
