Artist CV Examples Ready-to-Use Template [20+ Tips]

Artist CV Examples Ready-to-Use Template [20+ Tips] Youre an artist in academia, the struggle is real. The agony of years spent grinding away to build a reputation.Know nothing critics and gallery owners. Grant applications. Lecturing gigs.Butyou know your talent. Your Automaton Desecrating a Fragment puts anything by Jeff Koons in the shade.As for your expertise in 19th-century bronzesits second to none.After all the pain, your time to shine in academia has come. Whether youre applying to an Ivy League school, prestigious grants, or academic admissions, one thing links them allYou need an artist CV to prove your academic chops.Buthow to convey the breadth and brilliance of your abilities? This one document could make or break your academic career.Fear not. Well show you an artist CV example that you can adapt to win the most prestigious academic posts.This guide will show you:An artist CV template worthy of the Hugo Boss Prize.How to write an artists CV that selection committees will love.The best way to summarize your career and cre dentials on a CV for artists, with examples.How to describe your experience on a curriculum vitae for artists so you can achieve your academic goals.Here's an artist cv example made using our resume builder.Contact InfoOlav Berg218-654-0042OlavBerg@rhyta.comwww.olaversion.comlinkedin.com/mjhamm_zetytwitter.com/mjhamm_zetyProfileArt Lecturer with 10+ years of experience in facilitating learning in the fine arts focusing on contemporary artists who use digital media as a tool for photographic practice. Specialist in the communication of visual ideas through computer, digital camera and hybrid practice with a basis in photography as a medium for creating art. Active, exhibiting artist with portfolio of work available upon request. Contributed to 20% increase in BFA students taking up post-graduate studies and 15% increase in average test scores. Winner of Fine Art Photography Award 2017 in seascape category. Seeking to leverage my passion and expertise in the role of Photography Lectur er at Central Michigan University.Education2008 MFA in Visual Art, Major in Expanded MediaDepartment of Visual ArtUniversity of Kansas, Lawrence, KSThesis Exhibition: Shadows of Automation: Landscape with Metaphysical St GeorgeFaculty Mentor Professor Maria Velasco2005 BFA in Visual Art, Major in Expanded MediaDepartment of Visual ArtUniversity of Kansas, Lawrence, KSGraduated summa cum laude2001 BA in FrenchDepartment of French, Francophone Italian StudiesUniversity of Kansas, Lawrence, KSGraduated with Honors in FrenchProfessional AppointmentsSep 2014Present Assistant Professor, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CASep 2011Aug 2014 Lecturer, California Institute of the Arts, Valencia, CASep 2008Aug 2011 Research Associate, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NVGrants and Awards2019 Oregon Arts Commission Individual Artist Fellowship forJuxtaposed Manifesto of Superficial Matter2018 Shortlisted: San Francisco Foundation Visual Arts Award forEroded Sunset on Geopoliticus Component2017 Winner: San Francisco Foundation Visual Arts Award forMelancholic Response with Dimensionality2016 Shortlisted: Winter Solstice Juried Art Exhibition, Marin Museum of Contemporary Art, Novato, CA forThe Electronic Venus2015 American Express Cultural Heritage Grant forWork and Soul a Matter of Death2014 Winner: Sunniest Place on Earth All Media Juried Show, Yuma, AZ forStill Life with Undefined Contrast2012 Artist Grant, California Arts Council forThe Repulsive Metamorphosis - Kafka Rebooted2010 Shortlisted: Fish and Wildlife Conservation Art Contest, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife forWild at Heart2009 Winner: SD Arts Prize for MuseEcstasy ReconsideredSelected Exhibitions2019 Two-Person Exhibition,Forthright Dualities in Didactic Discourse, Cumberbatch Gallery, Los Angeles, CA (with mixed media artist Tarquin St Clair)2018 Solo Exhibition,Craven Poet in the Distance, Venn Exhibition Space, San Francisco, CA2017 Solo Exhibition,Ode to Aesthetic Knowledge, KC Gall ery, San Diego, CA2016 Manifesto of Metaphysical Hope, Shortland Gallery, San Diego, CA (curated by Maria Makunjuola)2015 Solo Exhibition,The Modern Alteration, Green Grove Gallery, Valencia, CA2014 Solo Exhibition,Theme from Enslaved Disgust, Althorp Gallery, San Jose, CA2013 An Echo of Melancholy, Hemsworth Gallery, San Bernadino, CA (curated by Stanislava Jankov)2012 Two-Person Exhibition,Summation and Summation, Dry Gulch Gallery, Bakersfield, CA (with sculptor Luiza Souza)2011 Landscape with Linear Exclusion, Silverado Gallery, Reno, NV (curated by Corey Masterson)2010 Solo Exhibition,Apropos in Biscuit, Silverado Gallery, Reno, NV2009 Solo Exhibition,Embarrassed Ego Fractionated, New Masters Gallery, Hawthorne, NV2008 MFA Thesis Exhibition, Spencer Museum of Art, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KSCommissions2017 Public Art Commission,Velut arbor aevo, hybrid photographic mural, Bakersfield Nature Center, Bakersfield, CA2014 Corporate Art Commission,Diente Blanco Grande, mixed media mural, Access Dental Corporation Headquarters, Sacramento, CA2012 Public Art Commission,Sentiment Life Fractionated, photographic mural, San Bernadino Town Hall, San Bernardino, CACollectionsAshmore Collection, Long Beach, CAClifton Museum, Los Angeles, CADennis Amenaza Collection, Las Vegas, NVBibliographyC. Siete, Grayscale grandeur: Winter Photo Fair Success, San BernardinoPost,San Bernardino, CA, Feb 13, 2016. 76.Brick Tamlyn, Wilderness Photography Prize, KNK-TV, Palm Springs, CA, July 7, 2014.Dennis Chang, Jury Prizes, Art Attack, May 16, 2013. http://artattack.com/archived/art-77092PublicationsFaulkner Envisioned: Depictions of Southern Gothic, The Tennessee Fine Art Digest, Tyrone Banks and Irma Watson, eds. (Knoxville, TN: Northern Tennessee University Press, 2014): 107135.Mixed Media as Literary Critique, New Visions, April 2013,. 8697.Vade Retro Satana - The Art of Exorcism, Ars Heretica, March 2012. www.arsheretica.com/contributor/kecharm/RepresentationBrutum Fulme n Gallery, Los Angeles, CAReferencesCharlotte JamesonDistinguished ProfessorUCLA Department of ArtBroad Art Center, Suite 2275240 Charles E. Young DriveLos Angeles, CA 90095-1615(310) 825-3388cjameson@arts.ucla.eduProfessional ServiceBoard of Trustees, Long Beach Painters Guild, Long Beach, CAProfessional OrganizationsCollege Art AssociationNational Association for the Visual ArtsPhotographic Society of AmericaForeign LanguagesFrenchFluentWant to save time and have your CV ready in 5 minutes? Try our CV builder. Its fast and easy to use. Plus, youll get ready-made content to add with one click. See 20+ resume templates and create your CV here.Sample artist CV made with our builderSee more templates and create your CV here.One of our users, Nikos, had this to say:[I used] a nice template I found on Zety. My resume is now one page long, not three. With the same stuff.Create your CV nowWant to take a stab at jobs outside the art circut? Switch to: Artist ResumeWe also have guides with more general advice for writing a CV for Academic purposes.Professor CV Example GuideAcademic CV Example GuideWhats the Best Artist CV Template?First, whats an artist CV?An artist CV is a record of your professional experiences and artistic achievements used to apply for juried exhibitions, grants, awards, gallery shows, commissions, and residency programs. As such, an artist CV is much more detailed and way longer than a typical resume.So your artist CV is not a resume.An artistic resume is much like a resume for other jobs. Its brief and often angled towards your particular expertise to help you land a job in the commercial world. This also means it should be shorter2-page resumes are standard for most candidates.Pro Tip: As an artist in academia, you may still be asked for a short CV. Its limited to 3 or 4 pages in length and usually leaves out professional service and non-academic experience. You can also save space by only including selected exhibitions and bibliography entri es. More on that later.Putting length considerations asideAbove all, you need to keep your artist CV format simple and readable. This isnt the time to get all avant-garde.The first person to read your artist CV could be an academic administrator with no real art expertise. Thats why you have to make sure its easy to follow and understandable even by a layperson. Heres how:Start with good CV formatting. Use white space to improve readability and highlight each section of your CV.For your CV font, go a simple sans serif like Calibri. Its modern, readable, and renders on most systems.For the CV file format, use PDF. It wont mess up your careful formatting. But, some employers and institutions will insist you dont use PDF. Be prepared and save a copy of your artist CV in another format like DOCX.And what exactly to include in your artist CV?Artist CV TemplateInclude the following sections in your CV for artists:Contact Information(Optional) CV profileEducationProfessional appointmentsGr ants and awardsExhibitionsCommissionsCollectionsBibliographyPublications as authorRepresentationReferencesAdditional sections (including non-academic experience, professional service, and professional organizations)Less experienced artists might not need all of these sections. Also, feel free to skip any section that isnt relevant to you.The order isnt written in stone either. As a rule, put the most impressive artistic achievements first. Heres an example: if you have an amazing and prestigious bibliography but limited awards, feel free to swap them around.Taking your first steps into Academia by applying for an art scholarship? See our guide: Resume For Scholarship (Template Complete Guide).So youve just seen the full list of the necessary sections for your artist CV. Now, lets show you how to write each section to highlight your artistic achievements and skills:1Contact InformationIts so obvious that its easy to forget. So make sure you include full contact information.In your a rtist CV contact information section include:Full nameProfessional title and affiliationInstitutional address (if writing for academic purposes and you already hold a post)Your home addressEmailTelephone numberLinkedIn profile (optional)We say LinkedIn profile is optional, but regardless of whether you include it, your online presence will be scrutinized. Make sure its a help and not a hindrance with our guide: How to Check Your Online Presence Before You Get Looked UpNow thats covered we can move on to the all important content of your artist curriculum vitae.2Optional CV ProfileThis point is as controversial as Andres Serrano.For an artist resume wed say, yes absolutely include a profile.For a CV though, a profile is not always 100% in line with academic standards. The College Art Associations guidance doesnt specify that you include a profile but neither does it advise against using one. Its a gray area.In certain situations wed still recommend using one. In particular, when your e applying for a straightforward academic job like a lecturer. Including a profile statement on your CV for artists will give it that extra little bit of flair and set you apart from the competition. So get drafting!And bear in mind that:Your artist CV profile should be a summary of the CV that follows. Use it to catch the readers eye and keep them reading.You need to tailor it to the particular institution and job youre applying for. No copy-paste laziness here!In this artist CV sample profile well discuss a profile written for a lecturer role:Artist CV ExampleProfileRIGHTArt Lecturer with 10+ years of experience in facilitating learning in the fine arts focussing on contemporary artists who use digital media as a tool for photographic practice. Specialist in the communication of visual ideas through computer, digital camera and hybrid practice with a basis in photography as a medium for creating art. Active, exhibiting artist with portfolio of work available upon request. Contribu ted to 20% increase in BFA students taking up post-graduate studies and 15% increase in average test scores. Winner of Fine Art Photography Award 2017 in seascape category. Seeking to leverage my passion and expertise in the role of Photography Lecturer at Central Michigan University.WRONGExperienced Art Lecturer seeking role as Photography Lecturer at Central Michigan University. Accomplished professional photographer looking to inspire the next generation. Good interpersonal skills and talent for promoting creativity and open-mindedness in an academic setting.The first artist CV profile is laser focused on a specific role. It details the applicants area of specialty and emphasizes their status as an active artist. It also includes performance metrics and mentions winning a prestigious award.The second? Lots of color, but no detail. Theres minimal effort in targeting the role and selling the applicant.Discover more tips and tricks for writing a great opening statement in our guide: How to Write a CV Personal ProfileWhen making a CV in our builder, drag drop bullet points, skills, and auto-fill the boring stuff. Spell check? Check. Start building your CV here.Create my CV nowWhen youre done, Zetys CV builder will score your CV and tell you exactly how to make it better.3EducationYoure targeting academia. Think Claude Monet, not a cheesy Thomas Kinkade.Heres how to do it right.Start off by making a list of your degrees and arrange them in reverse chronological order (most recent first, followed by the one previous to it and so on.)Include:Year of completion or expected completion if still pursuing (no starting dates)Degree typeMajor and minors (if applicable)Department and institutionCum Laude and other honorsDissertation/Thesis title and advisorHeres a sample:Artist CV ExampleEducation Section2016 MFA in Visual Art, Major in Expanded MediaDepartment of Visual ArtUniversity of Kansas, Lawrence, KSThesis Exhibition: Shadows of Automation: Landscape with Metaphy sical St GeorgeFaculty Mentor Professor Maria Velasco2013 BFA in Visual Art, Major in Expanded MediaDepartment of Visual ArtUniversity of Kansas, Lawrence, KSGraduated summa cum laude2009 BA in FrenchDepartment of French, Francophone Italian StudiesUniversity of Kansas, Lawrence, KSGraduated with Honors in FrenchWhy include the BA in French when its a non-fine arts degree? Well, in a CV it pays to include all your education. This artist CV example could show youd be a prime candidate to assist with a study abroad program.Its these extras that make or break your chances in the hyper-competitive field of academia.Knowledge of the reverse-chronological format is essential for writing both artist CVs and resumes. Learn more here: Chronological Resume: Template, Sample, Examples [+Writing Tips]4Professional AppointmentsIn this section of your artist CV you have to list your teaching, academic, and related work experience. Again, follow the reverse-chronological format as you did in you r education section.Unlike a resume, this section in an artists CV is a simple list of academic positions you have held so far. Start with dates, followed by your position and finish with institution and location.Use a table to separate dates from the remaining information. It helps to make the formatting of your artist CV clearer.Pro Tip: Be precise with your academic title. There are important differences between associate professor, assistant professor, lecturer and so on. If the school doesnt use ranks and distinctions, you can use faculty instead.Artist CV ExampleProfessional ExperienceSep 2013Present Assistant Professor, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CASep 2008Aug 2013 Assistant Professor, California Institute of the Arts, Valencia, CASep 2004Aug2008 Lecturer, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NVBut dont include your non-academic work experience here. In artist CVs, it is covered in a separate section.5Grants and AwardsNow is not the time to be shy.Anyone can claim to produce great art but few are recognized as great artists.Whatever the purpose of your artist CVacademia, juried exhibitions, gallery shows, commissions, or residency programsit pays to list the accolades youve received.The greater your achievements, the more your artist CV will stand out from the competition.Important:Dont forget to include short listings as well as prizes youve won. A short listing is still a prestigious acknowledgment of your artistic talents.Again, make use of formatting to improve clarity. Use italics for the title of the piece or exhibition like on the artist CV sample below:Artist CV ExampleGrants and Awards2019 Oregon Arts Commission Individual Artist Fellowship forJuxtaposed Manifesto of Superficial Matter2018 Shortlisted: San Francisco Foundation Visual Arts Award forEroded Sunset on Geopoliticus Component2017 Winner: San Francisco Foundation Visual Arts Award forMelancholic Response with Dimensionality2016 Shortlisted: Winter Solstice Juried Art Exhibition, Marin Museum of Contemporary Art, Novato, CA forThe Electronic Venus2015 American Express Cultural Heritage Grant forWork and Soul a Matter of Death2014 Winner: Sunniest Place on Earth All Media Juried Show, Yuma, AZ forStill Life with Undefined ContrastPro Tip: Take time and list your grants and awards. Keep a master list and add to it every time you receive a new accolade. This will make your life (and artist CV writing) easier.Time for another key section of your CV for artists.6ExhibitionsThis section of your artist CV is of paramount importance. If you had an academic career in literature, youd use this section for your publication record. Its that big.Follow our lead below:Format as a table for neat layout.Start with the year, no month or date required.List type of exhibition, name of exhibition, venue and location.Add and any other relevant info if necessary.Once again, the key here is to keep it simple and readable. Artists earlier on in their career may wish to use one headingExhibitions.Those with more extensive experience may wish to divide this section of their artist CVs into subheadings. We'd suggest Solo Exhibitions, Group Exhibitions, etc.Use clear and consistent formatting and italicize exhibition titles. Heres an example for your CV for artists:Artist CV ExampleExhibitionsRIGHT2019 Two-Person Exhibition,Forthright Dualities in Didactic Discourse, Cumberbatch Gallery, Portland, WA (with mixed media artist Tarquin St Clair)2019 Solo Exhibition,Craven Poet in the Distance, Venn Exhibition Space, Salem, WA2018 Solo Exhibition,Ode to Aesthetic Knowledge, KC Gallery, Seattle, WA2018 Manifesto of Metaphysical Hope, Shortland Gallery, Portland, WA (curated by Maria Makunjuola)2018 Solo Exhibition,The Modern Alteration, Green Grove Gallery, Tacoma, WA2017 MFA Thesis Exhibition, Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art, Washington State University, Pullman, WAIf your record of exhibitions is more impressive than your awards list, then definitely put this section first. It carries a lot of weight.Pro Tip: More experienced artists should be selective and choose the most important exhibitions in your career. Do so by using the word selected to preface your heading. Also, note that adjudicated or refereed exhibitions hold more weight with academic administrators. Be sure to include these.7CommissionsIf applicable, include a commissions section in your artist CV. A commission from a government body, large corporation or notable individual will add more threads to the rich tapestry of your artistic career.For very accomplished artists it may be useful to divide these into sub-categories: public, private and corporate.Heres an exampleagain, take note of the formatting:Artist CV ExampleCommissions2017 Public Art Commission,Velut arbor aevo, sculpture, 7 x 7 x 14ft, granite, Ogden Nature Center, Ogden, UT2014 Corporate Art Commission,Complex Molecular Organic, sculpture, 9 x 9 x 9ft, mixed materials, Huntsman Corporate Headquarters, Sal t Lake City, UT2012 Public Art Commission,Sentiment Life Fractionated, sculpture 5 x 5 x 8ft, cast silicon bronze, Provo Town Hall, Provo, UT8CollectionsIf your work is part of a collection then you should include a separate section on your artist CV to note this.Again, if your list is long, feel free to use sub-headings. As with commissions, private, public and corporate are a good start.However, the formatting here is slightly different. You dont need to use the reverse chronological format as with the preceding sections.Instead, list the collector, city, and state, and arrange these in alphabetical order.Artist CV ExampleCollectionsAshmore Collection, Tulsa, OKClifton Museum, Oklahoma City, OKDennis Amenaza Collection, Muskogee, OK9BibliographyIn an artist CV, a bibliography is a list of mentions of you and your work published in print or the media.This includes publications in traditional academic journals, newspapers, magazines, television, Internet and radio, as well as publis hed photos of your works.Formatting of this section of your artist CV is crucial. We recommend you follow the Chicago Manual of Style for citing.When citing online sources make sure you insert the link into your text. Always make sure its clickable and the page is still live.Keep readability in mind. Its best to stick to reverse chronological order here, too. Also, place the first name of the author before the last name. It scans better.Artist CV SampleBibliographyS. C. Siete, Bronzed Ambition: Winter Sculpture Fair Success, Columbia Post,Columbia, MO, Feb 13, 2016. 76.Brick Tamlyn, Wild Wood Carving, KNK-TV, Springfield, MO, July 7, 2014.Dennis Chang, Jury Prizes, Art Attack, May 16, 2013. http://artattack.com/archived/art-7709210Publications as AuthorThis artist CV section focuses on published material that youve authored. For an academic artist CV template, this helps to cement your subject matter expertise.Include reviews, essays, journals and blogs and, again, use the reverse c hronological order. Also, dont forget to insert links where appropriate.Artist CVPublicationsFaulkner Envisioned: Depictions of Southern Gothic, The Tennessee Fine Art Digest, Tyrone Banks and Irma Watson, eds. (Knoxville, TN: Northern Tennessee University Press, 2014): 107135.Mixed Media as Literary Critique, New Visions, April 2013,. 8697.Vade Retro Satana - The Art of Exorcism, Ars Heretica, March 2012. www.arsheretica.com/contributor/kecharm/For more, see: How to List Publications on a Resume or CV11RepresentationThis will only be relevant to the most experienced artists. If you do have representation, also known as gallery affiliation, then include it as a separate section of your artist CV.You just need the gallery name and location:Artist CV ExampleRepresentationBrutum Fulmen Gallery, Los Angeles, CA12ReferencesYoull know the person by the company they keep. In the art world, this parable is ever more true.Aim to list between three and five people who can serve as professiona l references if needed. Choose a mix of supervisors, instructors and mentors from your studies and your employers.Make sure theyre happy to be used as a reference and make sure theyre going to give positive feedback on you as an artist.When listing references on your artist CV, you should include their:Full nameTitle/positionWork addressTelephone numberEmail addressSee the example:Artist CV ExampleReferencesCharlotte JamesonDistinguished ProfessorUCLA Department of ArtBroad Art Center, Suite 2275240 Charles E. Young DriveLos Angeles, CA 90095-1615(310) 825-3388cjameson@arts.ucla.edu13Additional SectionsSo, by now weve added the final brushstroke right?Not necessarily.There are other sections you can add to transform your artist CV into a true masterpiece.Non-Academic Experience on Artist CVThis section is useful for recent graduates with limited artistic experience. If you have work or art-related experience that you feel is relevant then list them here.Think art internships or volu nteer work. Use the same style we showed you for professional experience.Professional Service on Artist CVFor some schools, evidence of community service is a must. If you serve on a board, sit on a committee, consult for projects or volunteer for events this is the place to put it.For formatting, go for year, your title, organization, city and state. Heres a brief example:20052009 Board of Trustees, Kansas City Painters Guild, Kansas City, MOProfessional Organizations on Artist CVMention the art bodies youre a member of. List them alphabetically.For example:College Art AssociationNational Association for the Visual ArtsNational Watercolor SocietyWomens Caucus for ArtThere are other additional sections you may wish to add to your artist curriculum vitae. Think of this as a bespoke commission. It will vary depending on your unique skill set and experience.Here are some suggestions for additional sections on an artist CV:Technical abilitiesConsultanciesExhibitions juried and/or curate dForeign languagesGallery affiliationsFor more ideas about what to add, check out our expert guide: What to Include in a CV: 6 Must-Have CV SectionsKey TakeawayThe arts are a highly competitive discipline. So theres no room for complacency when writing an artist CV.Make your artists CV a masterpiece with these tips:Use clear and consistent structure and formatting.If youre applying for a lecturing job, write an artist CV profile to set you apart from the outset.Regardless of whether your artist CV is for an academic post, grant program, residence or exhibition you, need to let your talent shine. Do it right by listing your awards, exhibitions, commissions, collections and bibliography.Show off your artistic credentials with a polished list of publications.Add the finishing touch with relevant additional artist CV sections that showcase the entirety of your talent.Got more questions about our artist CV example and guide? Not sure if a specific additional section is worth including? L et us know in the comments section and well give you the answers. Thanks for reading.