How to Create an Artist Resume (With Examples and Tips)

This article was originally written by Shella Zelenz and was published on Indeed.

An artist’s resume can require different elements than a typical resume. Individuals in creative fields typically want to highlight their portfolios, productions and exhibitions to potential employers. Learning what to include on an artistic resume can help you properly highlight your skills and showcase your work.In this article, we go over the components of an artist’s resume and explain how to create an effective artist resume with some examples.

What is an artistic resume?

An artistic resume is a document that focuses on showcasing an individual’s creative activities. It may feature exhibition works, theater productions, animation shows, articles and other original works of art. Some artistic resumes contain portfolios or bibliographies, which are reviews of the artist’s work.Additionally, these documents may include components that are standard with other resumes like employment history, academic achievements and skills. An artist might submit their resume when applying for a creative position or petitioning a gallery to display their work.This document might be standalone or support other application materials like a cover letter. In some cases, an artist uses a resume to convey their unique style by incorporating design elements or using a unique medium like a website or video instead of a standard text document.

How to write an artistic resume

While artistic resumes vary depending on your field and the type of job you’re applying for, here are some general steps you can take when creating these documents:

1. Keep it simple

Artists’ resumes can include bibliographies, exhibition listings, portfolio links and other examples of creative works. You might want to include many examples for each of these sections, but consider keeping the resume on the shorter side. A museum, theater or firm can receive many submissions in a week. A simple resume with relevant details can stand out to the recruiting team.Related:Guide to Writing an Effective Resume: Tips and Examples

2. Add your contact details

Your contact details can be in the same format as on a standard resume. You can provide your full name, phone number, email address and a link to your portfolio. Artist resumes are occasionally available on artist, gallery or theater websites. If you’re submitting a resume for a website, you can omit your phone number and email address from the contact details.Related:How To Write a Resume in 10 Steps

3. Write a professional summary

A professional summary is a brief statement describing your career as an artist. You might indicate how many years of experience you have or what type of training you’ve received. Other information you might include is what type of art you specialize in or what notable awards you’ve received.Related:9 Networking Tips for Successful Visual Artists

4. List your relevant employment in the field

The next section on your artist’s resume is employment history, which lists your most recent job first. You can include freelance work as long as it applies to your field. For example, if your field is photography, you can include an entry like this:

Freelance Photographer
March 2020–April 2020

Shot 25 family sessions
Clients referrals multiplied original session bookings
Shot four weddings
Exhibition at Kissimmee Art Museum for Aspen Goji exhibit

5. List your creative works

Consider including any relevant work to the position you’re applying for and categorizing this section as exhibitions, collections, publications, productions or shows. You can include the name of the work, your role in it and its publication date. A separate bibliography section with reviews on your work may make your resume more compelling. In the bibliography section, try including entries with the name of the review, the author, the publication source and the date of publication.

6. Include your educational background

Consider including any relevant education on your artist resume, starting with the most recent. You can exclude your graduation year if it was within the last three years. Your educational background may include a college degree or any professional training you’ve received. For example, you might write “Classically trained ballet dancer, trained under French Ballet School by Amelie Macron.”Related:How To List Education on a Resume (With Examples)

Artistic resume examples

Here are some examples you can use as inspiration for your own artistic resume:

Example 1

Here’s an example of a resume a sculptor might create:Misty Taylor
555-847-1353 | mistytaylor@email.com | Kissimmee, Florida | mistytaylorartsite.comProfessional SummaryOriginal sculptor with vast portfolio of work spanning 12+ years. Skilled at quick but creative execution and client relations for commissioned pieces.Work ExperienceFreelance Artist, April 2015–Current
Self-employed, Kissimmee, Florida

Create one to two client commissions per month based on specific requirements
Design pieces for Kissimmee Art Museum’s local artist exhibit every April
Produce unique sculptures for Mayoral Artist solo exhibitions
Explain scope of work to new clients and complete revisions accordingly
Maintain relationships with clients and generate referrals

Art Teacher, January 2011–April 2015
Lamont Art Studio, Kissimmee, Florida

Taught five classes a week, covering different methods of fine art
Ordered supplies and equipment for the studio and other artists
Covered other artists’ classes when necessary

Bibliography

Eric Smith, “Sculptures Unseen,” The Stand, October 2022
Bart Tessem, “Creativity Unbound,” Version Two, November 2021

Exhibitions

Mayoral Artists Solo Exhibition: Sculpture Undone, April 2021
Multi-Artist Exhibition: Modern Artist, Freedom. Orlando Museum of Sculpture, October 2021

EducationBachelor of Fine Arts in sculpture
Chicago Western University

Example 2

Here’s an example of a resume a dancer might create:Karina Hines
555-988-2564 | karinahines@email.com | Chicago, Illinois | katrinadance.comProfessional SummaryInnovative dancer with seven years of theater experience and television production work. Skilled in classic dance but can adapt to any style or situation for production purposes.Work ExperienceBallerina, March 2018–Current
Chicago Ballet, Chicago, Illinois

Star in two productions per season, with the latest role being Princess in “The Princess Star”
Choreograph numbers for classes in the local community
Oversee auditions and casting sessions
Assist with welcoming and training new members
Develop rehearsal plans

Dance Teacher, March 2016-March 2018
Franco Dance Studio, Chicago, Illinois

Taught three classes during the week concentrating on ballet, intermediate ballet and advanced ballet
Taught three classes during the week concentrating on jazz, tap and hip-hop
Assisted with administrative duties like overseeing payroll

Bibliography

Don Julia, “Princess Vision,” Modern Ballet, October 2022
Ryan Nealson, “Ballerina Princess,” Ballet Times, June 2022

Productions

Moonlight, November 2022
The Princess Star, January 2022
Red Jupiter, December 2021

EducationBachelor of Fine Arts with a concentration in ballet
Depaul University

Tips for creating various artist resumes

Here are some tips for creating an artist’s resume based on your field:

Actor

This resume can showcase any type of production you have been in, including theater, commercial work, television or film. Your education might list if you’ve had professional training or received a degree in theater arts. You can also list awards received for your work.

Art director

Your resume can list newspaper and magazine layouts and product packaging. You can also include if you’ve instructed others on layouts and design, which can show good leadership skills.

Painter or animator

A painter or animator’s resume can list any exhibitions, gallery or firm work. It can also list any freelance employment periods where you might have received a commission for your work. Consider listing a portfolio to exhibit personal collections and commission works.

Filmmaker or director

Your filmmaking or director resume can include any films you made, directed or produced. A filmmaker or director might have an employment history in a theatrical management office or freelance projects.

Designer

Your resume can list freelance design, pro bono work and work at design firms. For any freelance periods, you can include if the projects were on time or under budget and how many projects you completed in that time frame. Positive testimonials from past clients can assure a hiring manager of your ability to work according to client preferences.Related:How To Find Art Jobs (Plus 8 Different Jobs You Can Pursue)

Photographer

A photography resume could list both freelance and permanent employment. For example, you could list your experience working with various media and publication sources along with freelance wedding photography work.Consider including this information under the employment history section of your resume in addition to any professional studio employment. Your resume can also include exhibitions, shows or publications in which your photography was featured.

DJ

Your DJ resume could list any work you did as part of an events company or at a specific venue. The resume can list how many events you worked and how many attendees there were. For example, you might write “DJ’ed at 350 events with 400 plus attendees.” Your DJ resume can also include the equipment you’re familiar with and the types of events or clubs at which you’ve worked.Related:How To Write a Great Resume With No Experience

Fashion designer

A fashion designer or stylist resume can include:

Any formal education or training
Employment at a publication or design agency
Freelance work
The number of orders you process or the number of clients you serve
Hard skills like sewing, graphic design or social media marketing

Dancer

Your dance resume can list your affiliations with various troupes. You can also list:

Specific parts you held
How often the productions ran
Other duties you were responsible for like choreography, inventory or backstage work
Teaching experience

Musician

Your resume could include professional music education or training under an experienced musician. Employers or venues might also be interested in your time as a music educator, professional orchestra member or participation in a band or musical theater group. If you’ve performed freelance work, you might indicate events like weddings you’ve played.