Show a body of work, not everything you have made
A portfolio should help a gallery understand your visual identity quickly. Lead with the strongest current series and remove weaker, unrelated or repetitive works. Five to ten excellent examples create a better first impression than a large archive without direction.
Sequence matters. Begin with a work that establishes the practice, build depth through related pieces and finish with something memorable. The viewer should see consistency without feeling that every work is identical.
Give every artwork a complete record
Each image needs an accurate title, year, medium, dimensions, price, availability and location. Editioned works need additional information about edition size, artist proofs, process, substrate and framing.
Use high-resolution images with neutral colour and even lighting. Include a clean front view and, where helpful, a detail or contextual image that communicates surface and scale. Do not allow a room mock-up to replace the accurate artwork image.
- Title and year
- Medium and materials
- Dimensions and edition
- Retail price and availability
- High-resolution artwork image
Write in direct, credible language
A concise biography should explain who you are, where you work and the relevant development of your career. An artist statement should explain the ideas, materials and decisions behind the work without hiding behind abstract language.
Exhibitions, collections, awards and publications should be factual and verifiable. Clear writing gives a gallery better material for presenting the practice to collectors and avoids claims that weaken trust.
Prepare for the enquiry before it arrives
Keep a current inventory and price list. Know which works are available, reserved or sold, and update your gallery immediately when something changes.
You should also know how each work will be packed, its packed dimensions, approximate weight and collection location. Professional presentation continues after discovery; it is what allows interest to become a confident transaction.