When you’re applying for artist residencies, gallery exhibitions, grants, or other professional opportunities, a polished Artist CV can make a significant difference. While your portfolio shows what you can create, your CV shows who you are as a professional — your experience, education, exhibitions, awards, and affiliations.

At TheArtList, we know the path to artistic success is built not only on talent but also on professionalism. In this guide we’ll break down everything you need to craft an outstanding artist CV, explain when you’ll need one, highlight the differences between an artist CV and an artist résumé, and give you a template and a sample to get you started!

What Is an Artist CV and Why Does It Matter? 

An Artist Curriculum Vitae (CV) is a detailed record of your professional art experience. Unlike a professional CV, an artist CV may require different elements. Think of it as a timeline of your artistic career, capturing key accomplishments like exhibitions, awards, residencies, education, publications, and professional memberships. 

While a résumé is typically one page and tailored to a specific opportunity, an artist CV is often longer and more comprehensive. It grows with your career and serves as your master record of achievements.

You’ll likely need an Artist CV when applying for:

• Gallery exhibitions (especially juried shows)
• Artist residencies
• Grants and fellowships
• Teaching positions
• Museum exhibitions
• Commissioned projects
  

It demonstrates your seriousness as a professional artist and gives decision-makers confidence in your experience and commitment.

🎨Related: OPEN CALLS 101

Artist CV vs. Artist Résumé: What’s the Difference?

In short: your CV is the complete record; your résumé is the highlight reel.

Why You Should Keep a Master Copy of Your Artist CV

Always maintain a master copy of your artist CV, which includes everything — no matter how big or small. Even minor exhibitions, workshops, or projects could become more relevant over time.

When an opportunity arises, you can easily customize your CV by emphasizing the sections most relevant to the call or application — and trimming what isn’t.

This saves time, ensures you don’t forget important milestones, and helps you stay organized as your career evolves.

🎨Related: THE ARTIST’S BLUEPRINT – 10 QUESTIONS TO BUILD A THRIVING CAREER

Artist CV Template

Here’s a simple, clean structure you can follow:

• [Full Name]

• [Website] | [Email Address] | [Phone Number] | [City, Country] | [Social Media handles]

About Me

[Write a 3–5 sentence professional artist bio here. Mention your artistic style, major themes, sources of inspiration, key mediums you work with, and any notable career highlights or exhibitions.]

Education

• [Year] [Degree, Major], [School Name], [City, Country]

Solo Exhibitions

• [Year] [Exhibition Title], [Gallery/Museum Name], [City, Country]

Group Exhibitions

• [Year] [Exhibition Title], [Gallery/Museum Name], [City, Country]

Residencies

• [Year] [Residency Program Name], [Location]

Awards and Honors

• [Year] [Award Name], [Organization Name]

Grants and Fellowships

• [Year] [Grant/Fellowship Name], [Granting Organization]

Publications and Press

• [Year] “[Article Title],” [Publication Name]

Collections

• [Public or Private Collections where your work is held]

Professional Affiliations

• [Organization Name, Member since [Year]

Teaching and Lectures

• [Year] [Lecture Title], [Institution/Organization]

Other Professional Experience

• [Relevant projects, curation, administration, etc.]

Example Artist CV: Michelangelo Buonarroti

Let’s imagine the famous Renaissance artist Michelangelo stepping into the world of fine art photography. Here’s what his artist CV might look like:

Tips for Crafting an Outstanding Artist CV

1. Keep It Simple and Organized: Use clear headings and consistent formatting. Stick to professional fonts like Arial, Helvetica, or Times New Roman. (For the fictional Michelangelo example above, we used Times New Roman). 
2. List in Reverse Chronological Order: Put your most recent accomplishments first.
3. Stay Honest: Don’t exaggerate exhibitions, awards, or other credentials. Trust builds reputations.
4. Be Selective if Needed: If your CV gets too long, especially for a specific application, you can trim minor items not relevant to the opportunity.
5. Proofread Meticulously: A typo or grammatical error can make you appear unprofessional. Always double-check dates, names, and formatting. Have a trusted friend, colleague, or mentor proofread your CV before you submit it.
6. Keep Updating Regularly: Add new exhibitions, press mentions, awards, and other professional activities as they occur to maintain an up-to-date record. Consider setting a recurring reminder to review and update your CV.
7. Tailor for the Opportunity: While your master CV is comprehensive, always tailor it slightly for each application. Emphasize the experiences and achievements that directly align with the requirements or focus of the gallery, residency, or grant. For example, highlight site-specific installation experience for a residency focused on that.
8. Consider International Standards: If you are applying for opportunities internationally, research if there are any specific CV expectations in those regions. While the general format remains similar, some cultural nuances might exist.
9. Seek Examples and Feedback: Explore the websites of artists whose careers you admire or look at resources from reputable artist organizations for more examples of strong artist CVs. Don’t hesitate to ask trusted mentors or peers for feedback on your CV.
10. Create a Clean, Accessible Layout: You don’t need fancy software to build a great Artist CV—programs like Microsoft Word or Google Docs work just fine for creating a professional, easy-to-read document. If you’re comfortable with design tools, you can also use programs like Adobe InDesign to create a more visually polished layout (we used InDesign for our Michelangelo example!). Whichever tool you choose, the most important thing is to keep your CV clear, organized, and accessible for galleries, curators, and jurors.

TheArtList: Your Partner in Artistic Success

At TheArtList, we’re passionate about helping artists thrive. Whether you’re just starting out or are an established creative professional, we provide the resources you need to build your art career, including:

• A daily updated database of featured art and photography calls
• Monthly newsletters featuring upcoming deadlines and artist opportunities
• The Artist of the Month Contest, giving your work national exposure

📩 Subscribe to our Artist & Photographer Mailing List to stay inspired and connected!

If you’re an art gallery, museum, or organization seeking to promote your events and calls for entry, join our Submitter Mailing List for exclusive offers and monthly promotions.

Your art deserves to be seen — and your journey to success starts with tools like a well-crafted Artist CV.