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Lesson 6 of 8
  • Year 11

Writing an artist statement

I can create an artist statement that communicates my ideas, materials, and intentions.

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View unit
Lesson 6 of 8
New
New
  • Year 11

Writing an artist statement

I can create an artist statement that communicates my ideas, materials, and intentions.

Download all

These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Traditionally, an artist statement is a piece of writing where artists explain their work, methods, and intentions.
  2. Across history and cultures, artists have explained their work in many different ways.
  3. The statement is part of how art is experienced, it helps the audience engage more deeply.
  4. 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.


To help you plan your year 11 art and design lesson on: Writing an artist statement, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

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.
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Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Prior knowledge starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which of these is the best description of an artist statement?

a list of all the galleries an artist has visited
Correct answer: a piece of writing where the artist explains their ideas, materials, intentions
a short biography about the artist’s life story only
a review written by an art critic

Q2.
An artist statement should be written in clear, simple language that anyone can understand.

Correct Answer: True, Correct

Q3.
Why might an artist statement be useful for viewers?

It makes them like the work whether they want to or not.
It replaces the need to look at the artwork.
It only matters for very old artworks.
Correct answer: It helps them notice details and understand the artist’s intentions.

Q4.
Give one thing an artist might include in their statement to explain their work.

Correct Answer: Their main idea or theme, Materials or techniques used, What the audience should feel

Q5.
All artists, in every culture and time, write formal written artist statements.

Correct Answer: False, Incorrect

Q6.
How did many artists in earlier periods of Western art communicate the meaning or intention of their work?

Correct answer: through private letters or instructions from patrons
by posting written statements in galleries
through interviews with newspapers
by writing autobiographies

Additional material

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