Writing an artist statement
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can create an artist statement that communicates my ideas, materials, and intentions.
Key learning points
- Traditionally, an artist statement is a piece of writing where artists explain their work, methods, and intentions.
- Across history and cultures, artists have explained their work in many different ways.
- The statement is part of how art is experienced, it helps the audience engage more deeply.
- While traditionally written, it can also take other forms.
Keywords
Artist statement - a place in which an artist explains their work, ideas, and methods
Intention - what the artist wants to explore, show, or communicate
Common misconception
An artist statement has to be a long, formal piece of writing full of complicated words.
Artist statements can be short and simple, written in clear and honest language, and can also take other formats such as bullet points, spoken word, visual mind maps, captions, or short videos.
Teacher tip
Encourage students to say their ideas out loud first, speaking often feels easier than writing, and you can then help them capture those words in a simple statement or alternative format.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which of these is the best description of an artist statement?
Q2.An artist statement should be written in clear, simple language that anyone can understand.
Q3.Why might an artist statement be useful for viewers?
Q4.Give one thing an artist might include in their statement to explain their work.
Q5.All artists, in every culture and time, write formal written artist statements.
Q6.How did many artists in earlier periods of Western art communicate the meaning or intention of their work?
To help you plan your 11 art and design lesson on: Writing an artist statement, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 11 art and design lesson on: Writing an artist statement, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
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