Artist CV Template + Example in the Format Juries Expect
An artist CV template in the standard format: section order, reverse chronology, how to list exhibitions, an example, and a free builder that formats your CV.
By Onward ScoutPublished 2 min read
Free tool · runs in your browser
Artist CV builder
Paste your exhibitions, education, awards and collections, one per line. Get an artist CV in the section order and reverse-chronological format curators and juries expect.
Nothing you type here is uploaded or stored by Onward Scout; the tool runs entirely in your browser.
An artist CV lists your professional record in a standard order: contact details, education, solo exhibitions, group exhibitions, awards and residencies, collections and bibliography, each in reverse chronological order with years on the left. Paste your entries into the builder above and it lays them out in that section order; keep each list newest first.
What format should an artist CV follow?
In short
Name and contact at the top, then education, solo exhibitions, group exhibitions, awards and residencies, collections and bibliography. List each section newest first with the year on the left. Send it as a PDF.
The College Art Association's guidelines, the reference most US institutions follow, say both the résumé and the CV should list entries in reverse chronological order within each category, most recent first[College Art Association], and recommend sending a PDF rather than a Word file. Consistency matters more than any single style choice: pick a format and use it throughout.
How do you list exhibitions on an artist CV?
In short
Year on the left, then the exhibition title in italics, the venue, city and state. Mark solo, two-person and group shows clearly; once you have several solo shows, give them their own section. Add "(catalog)" when one exists.
| Year | Exhibition | Venue | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Blocks I Walked (solo) | Current Space | Baltimore, MD |
| 2024 | New Ground (group) | Delaware Contemporary | Wilmington, DE |
| 2023 | What the Walls Kept (solo) | School 33 Art Center | Baltimore, MD |
What should an artist CV example include early in your career?
In short
Education, group shows, open studios, residencies, awards, commissions, publications and talks. Use one "Exhibitions" heading, with solo shows marked, until you have three or more solo shows to split out. Every true entry counts; do not pad with invented or unrelated items.
The CV is often read alongside your images and statement by a jury deciding quickly. Artadia, for example, uses a jury of three curators to review all applications[Artadia] before studio visits. A clean, scannable CV helps that jury place you in seconds.
How is an artist CV different from a regular résumé?
In short
An artist CV records exhibitions, awards and collections the way an academic CV records publications; a regular résumé summarizes jobs and skills for employers. If you apply for a job outside the art world, convert the CV into a résumé that highlights transferable work.
Grant panels look for steady activity, not volume. The Gottlieb Foundation's Individual Support Grant, for instance, is limited to painters, sculptors and printmakers who have worked in a mature phase of art for 20 years or more according to its guidelines[Gottlieb Foundation], and a CV is where a panel checks that history. Pair your CV with an artist bio and an artist statement, then use the grants for artists finder to see where to apply.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between an artist CV and an artist résumé?
A CV is a complete record of your professional art history: exhibitions, awards, collections, publications. An artist résumé is a shorter selection tailored to one opportunity, usually one or two pages.
What order should an artist CV be in?
Contact details, education, solo exhibitions, group exhibitions, then awards, grants and residencies, collections, and bibliography. Put your strongest category near the top.
Should I list exhibitions newest first?
Yes. Every section uses reverse chronological order, with the year on the left, except categories like collections that follow their own format.
How long should an artist CV be?
As long as your record, as a full CV; but most applications want a one-to-two-page selected version. Keep both.
A CV ready for every application you send
Onward Scout finds residencies, grants and open calls that fit, and prepares each application with a CV drafted from your profile, ready for you to upload.
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