Artist & Teaching Statements
Overview
Across creative and academic careers, you will be asked to articulate your practice and values in written form. These statements are a chance to clarify your ideas and are often required in applications for residencies, exhibitions, teaching positions, and grants. This guide will help you get started on two core types of statements:
- Artist Statement
- Teaching Statement
Artist Statements
An artist statement introduces your creative work. It is a short text (typically less than one page) that gives audiences a way into your ideas, process, and intentions. These statements often accompany other application materials.
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Before writing, reflect on these questions:
- What are the key ideas or themes in your work?
- What materials or processes do you use, and why?
- How does your personal or academic background inform your practice?
- What does your work look, sound, or feel like?
- Who is your audience, and how do you want them to engage with your work?
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Opening paragraph (1–2 sentences): Clearly introduce what you make and why. Think of this as your thesis statement. For example, “My body of work combines photography and original writing to investigate themes of time and memory.”
Body paragraph (5–8 sentences): Describe your materials, process, and influences. Use a specific example of a piece or project that supports your larger ideas.
Closing paragraph: Wrap up by tying your ideas together. Optionally, mention current or future projects.
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- Write in the first person.
- Avoid jargon or overly abstract language.
- Be specific and authentic (your goal is to help readers visualize your work and connect with it).
- Read statements by artists you admire to see how they approach language and tone.
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Free writing: Set a 15-minute timer and write continuously about your creative practice. Do not worry about grammar or structure. Afterward, underline words or phrases that resonate. These can form the foundation of your statement.
Word bank: Create lists of nouns, adjectives, and verbs that relate to your work. Use these to generate fresh, descriptive language for your statement.
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How to Write an Artist Statement – The Creative Independent
“The Edit: Photographer Rosy Torres” – A practical revision process from artist Andi Crist
Teaching Statements
A teaching statement, or teaching philosophy, is a one- to two-page narrative outlining your approach to education. Commonly required for academic job applications, these statements help committees understand how you think about learning, student success, and the classroom experience.
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- Learning objective: What do you want students to take away from your classes?
- Teaching strategies: How do you support different learning styles and encourage engagement?
- Examples: Describe specific teaching moments or methods that reflect your values.
- Community: Share how you foster a respectful learning environment for all students
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Depending on the role and institution, you may also want to address:
- Your approach to both introductory and advanced courses for majors and non-majors
- Interdisciplinary or collaborative learning
- Use of technology or media
- Mentorship and feedback practices
For more ideas, see The Chronicle of Higher Education’s guide to teaching philosophies or SAIC’s full-time faculty search guidelines.
Support & Feedback
CAPX and the Writing Center are available to help you refine your statements.
Looking for Teaching Jobs?
As you prepare your artist and teaching statements, you may also be wondering where to find open positions. While it can be tempting to rely on a few well-known job boards, building your own tailored search strategy for your field, values, and interests is essential.
We encourage you to visit our companion resource on job search strategies for guidance on where and how to identify teaching and academic opportunities across disciplines, build a personalized search system and track applications, network effectively both online and in-person, and manage time, rejection, and job-search fatigue.
