Artist Bio Examples + Free Short, Medium and Long Bio Builder
What to put in a 50-, 100- and 150-word artist bio for galleries, open calls and residencies, plus a free builder that drafts a short, a medium and a long version to extend.
By Onward ScoutPublished 2 min read
Free tool · runs in your browser
Artist bio builder
Add your name, what kind of artist you are, where you work and any highlights. Get a short bio, a medium bio and a three-paragraph long layout in the third person, to trim or extend to the limit each gallery, open call or residency sets.
Nothing you type here is uploaded or stored by Onward Scout; the tool runs entirely in your browser.
An artist bio is a short third-person paragraph about you: your name, medium and base, what your work explores, notable exhibitions and honors, and education. The builder above drafts three versions from eight prompts: a short bio, a one-paragraph medium bio and a three-paragraph layout to grow into the long one; extend them toward the 100 or 150 words an application allows with recent work and a line on your approach.
What should an artist bio include?
In short
Name, medium, where you live and work, what your work explores, two or three notable exhibitions, awards or residencies, and education if relevant. Most recent and most significant first. Write it in the third person so others can publish it as is.
A bio is a credibility summary, not a story of your life. "Lena Ortiz is a painter and installation artist based in Baltimore, Maryland, whose work explores memory, displacement and the architecture of home" does more in one sentence than a paragraph about early influences.
What do artist bio examples look like at each length?
In short
50 words: name, medium, base, theme, one exhibition and one honor. 100 words: add more exhibitions, recent honors and education. 150 words: add a line on approach and current base, still in third person, still specific.
| Length | Use it for | Include |
|---|---|---|
| 50 words | Open call forms, social profiles | Name, medium, base, theme, one highlight |
| 100 words | Gallery and residency pages | Plus exhibitions, honors, education |
| 150 words | Press releases, catalogues | Plus a line on approach and context |
A 50-word example (a fictional artist): "Lena Ortiz is a painter and installation artist based in Baltimore, Maryland. Ortiz's work explores memory, displacement and the architecture of home. Exhibitions include solo shows at Current Space (2025) and School 33 Art Center (2023); honors include a 2024 residency at the Vermont Studio Center." The 100-word version adds group shows, a grant and education; the 150-word version adds a sentence on how the work is made.
How do you write a bio early in your career?
In short
Lead with what is true and specific: your medium, base and what the work explores. Then add whatever you have: education, residencies, group shows, open studios, publications, commissions. Do not pad with vague claims; a short honest bio reads better than a long inflated one.
You are in large company. The National Endowment for the Arts counted about 2.9 million artists in the US labor force in 2024[NEA, 2026 report], so specificity is what makes a bio memorable. Name the venue, the city and the year; skip adjectives like "emerging" or "acclaimed".
Where will you use your artist bio?
In short
Gallery and exhibition pages, open call and residency applications, grant forms, press releases, catalogues, your website and social profiles. Keep one master version and trim it for each use.
Many applications ask for the bio alongside a statement and CV. Juries and nominators read it too: Artadia, for example, reviews applications through a jury of three curators including one locally based curator[Artadia], and the Foundation for Contemporary Arts awards its $45,000 grants through nominators who propose artists anonymously[Foundation for Contemporary Arts], so the bio others can find about you matters. Keep your bio, artist statement and artist CV consistent, and find opportunities in the creative careers hub.
Frequently asked questions
Should an artist bio be in third person?
Yes, for galleries, open calls, press and catalogues. Third person lets others use it as written. Use first person only on your own website or social profiles if you prefer.
How long should an artist bio be?
Keep 50, 100 and 150-word versions. Open calls and press often specify a length; galleries usually want 100 to 150 words.
What is the difference between an artist bio and an artist statement?
A bio is about you: where you are based, your medium, your exhibitions and honors. A statement is about the work: what it explores and how you make it.
What if I have no exhibitions yet?
Lead with your medium, base and what the work explores, then add education, residencies, open studios, publications or community projects. Everyone starts somewhere; be specific rather than padded.
The right bio, drafted for every application
Onward Scout drafts a bio from your profile for each open call, residency, grant or exhibition application that asks for one, ready to paste or upload.
Nothing is submitted without your tap. Logins, CAPTCHAs, payments and interviews stay with you.