Too many works
More is not stronger. A selection of 10 cohesive works reads better than 25 that cover every period and experiment. Curate.
Guide · MyArtPDF
How to build a professional artist portfolio PDF
Galleries, residencies and art schools all ask for the same thing: a clean, readable portfolio PDF that lets the work speak for itself. Most artists overthink the layout and underinvest in structure. Here's what actually matters.
What to include
01
Artist statement
A short, direct description of your practice — what you make, why you make it, and what questions your work explores. One paragraph, 100–200 words. Avoid abstract language that could apply to anyone.
02
Biography
Third-person, factual, 100–150 words. Name, location, training, key exhibitions or residencies, what you're working on now.
03
CV
Exhibitions (solo and group), residencies, grants, education — reverse chronological. Keep it to one page if possible. Only include what's relevant to the application context.
04
Selected works
10–15 works maximum. Each with title, medium, dimensions and year. High resolution images, consistent margins, one work per page or a clear grid — never cramped.
Common mistakes
Over-designed layouts
Heavy graphic design pulls attention away from the work. Selection committees read dozens of portfolios — legibility and clarity are features, not limitations.
Inconsistent image quality
Mix of phone photos and professional shots in the same document signals carelessness. If you can't reshoot, don't include it.
Missing metadata
Title, medium, dimensions and year are required for every work. Galleries need this to assess feasibility for exhibition — omitting it reads as incomplete.
On tools
InDesign / Affinity
- Full layout control
- Steep learning curve
- Time-consuming to update
- Hard to maintain across applications
Canva / Google Slides
- Quick to start
- Template-heavy output
- Limited metadata structure
- PDF quality often inconsistent
MyArtPDF
- Built for this specific use case
- Guided structure (statement, bio, CV, works)
- Clean, gallery-ready output
- Local-first, no account
MyArtPDF
Free + €34
Generate a clean, gallery-ready portfolio PDF without dealing with layout tools. Free for one portfolio up to 15 works. Pro unlocks unlimited portfolios.