Artist statement or artist bio: what is the difference?

They are often confused, and you will be asked for both. Artist bio - About you. Usually written in the third person ("She lives and works in Porto..."). - Facts: where you are based, your training, key exhibitions, awards and collections. - Short: roughly 50 to 150 words. Keep a longer version for applications. Artist statement - About the work. Usually written in the first person. - What you make, how you make it, and why: the ideas, questions or experiences behind it. - Roughly 100 to 300 words, in plain language. If a friend outside the art world cannot follow it, simplify it. - Update it when your work changes. A statement written for work from five years ago reads strangely next to what you make now. A good test: read your statement aloud. If you would not say it that way in conversation, rewrite it. On your profile here, the description is the place for a bio-style introduction. Many artists add a short statement paragraph after it. Would anyone like feedback on their statement? Post it in a reply.