12 Visual Artist Resume Examples for 2025

Creating a good resume for a visual artist is tough. This article offers proven examples and advice to help you succeed. Learn how to layout your skills, experience, and portfolio. Find out which industry terms to use and how to show your creativity while staying professional. Use the given examples to make a strong resume and improve your chances of getting hired.

  Compiled and approved by Liz Bowen
  Last updated on See history of changes

  Next update scheduled for

At a Glance

Here's what we see in the best resumes as hiring managers:

  • Show Impact With Numbers: The best resumes show impact using numbers like increased social media followers by 25%, reduced production costs by 15%, completed 20 projects on time, and raised art sales by 40%.

  • Include Relevant Skills: Include skills on your resume that you have and are mentioned on the job description. Some popular ones are Photoshop, Illustrator, 3D modeling, digital painting, and animation. But don't include all of them, choose the ones you have and are mentioned in the JD.

  • Show Portfolios With Context: Include portfolio links with context like client projects or exhibited works. Hiring managers want to see relevant examples.

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Position your education wisely

If you have recently completed a significant educational program, such as a master's degree in fine arts, place your education section at the top of your resume. This shows employers why there may be a recent gap in your professional experience. For instance, if you have studied advanced painting techniques or specialized in digital illustration, highlighting this education early on helps employers understand your recent focus and advanced skills.

If, however, you are a seasoned visual artist with a strong work history, list your relevant experience first. Your work showcases your talent and execution of various artistic projects. Only include higher education that pertains to your artistry, such as a bachelor's degree in graphic design or specialized art courses that showcase significant skills like animation or sculpting.

Creating a portfolio for your resume

As an artist, include a link to your online portfolio. This shows your best work and gives employers a closer look at your skills.

Avoid generic portfolio links. Customize your portfolio for each job application to highlight your most relevant pieces.

Ideal length of a resume

As a visual artist, it's essential to keep your resume concise. Aim for one page if your experience is less than 10 years. This means you must select your best work to display. Show your ability to prioritize by including only the strongest examples of your art and experience.

If you have more than 10 years of work or significant projects, a two-page resume is acceptable. Put your most notable achievements on the first page. Ensure they stand out immediately to catch a hiring manager's eye. Remember, readability is key, so avoid small fonts and tight margins. If needed, find a template that helps include all crucial information in an organized way without making your resume look crowded.

Detailing exhibitions and reviews

List any exhibitions where your work appeared. Include dates and venues to show your experience in the art world.

If you have received any reviews, include quotes or links. Positive reviews add value to your resume and show your credibility.

Beat the resume bots

When you apply for a visual artist role, your resume might first be read by a computer program. This is called an Applicant Tracking System (ATS). You need to make your resume in a way that these systems can read it well. Here are two key things you should do:

  • Use common words for your skills and job titles. For example, say 'painter' or 'graphic designer' instead of 'visual creator.'
  • Add keywords from the job description. Look for important words in the job posting like 'Adobe Creative Suite' or '3D modeling,' and make sure they are in your resume.

Keep your layout simple. Do not use images or text boxes because the ATS might not read them. Instead, use standard text and bullet points to list your skills and experiences. This helps ensure that the computer can understand your resume and show it to the hiring manager.

Match your skills to the job

You need to show how your skills fit the job you want. Look at the job description and think about what the employer needs. Then, make it clear on your resume that you have these skills. This helps the employer see you are a good choice for the job.

  • List art styles you are good at that match the job needs.
  • Show projects where you used the same software or tools the job asks for.
  • If you have had art shows or sales, mention how your work drew people or sold well.

Highlight accomplishments, not tasks

When crafting your visual artist resume, remember that showcasing your achievements will have more impact than simply listing your job duties. You want to show potential employers the value you've added in previous roles, not just the work you were expected to do.

For example, instead of writing 'Responsible for creating artwork for clients,' you can transform this into an accomplishment by saying, 'Developed custom artwork that increased client satisfaction by 30%.' Another way to shift from responsibility to accomplishment could be changing 'Participated in art exhibitions' to 'Selected as a featured artist in international exhibitions, resulting in three pieces sold.'

These changes demonstrate your direct contributions and the positive outcomes that stemmed from your work as a visual artist. Use strong, simple words to describe your achievements and keep your sentences clear and to the point for greater impact.

Use dynamic verbs for impact

As a visual artist, the verbs you choose to describe your experience can paint a vivid picture of your skills for potential employers. Think of each verb as a brushstroke that adds depth and texture to your professional canvas. Highlight your creativity and ability to bring concepts to life by choosing words that are as dynamic as your art.

Using the right action verbs is crucial in showcasing your artistic process and the results you've achieved. These words should reflect the energy and passion you bring to your projects. Here’s a list of verbs that can help you demonstrate your expertise and make your resume stand out.

  • To display your creative concept development, use envisioned, conceived, crafted, designed, and illustrated.
  • For showing how you brought art to life, include rendered, sculpted, painted, sketched, and constructed.
  • When detailing collaborative projects, opt for collaborated, coordinated, consulted, contributed, and synthesized.
  • To emphasize your project management skills, use orchestrated, directed, managed, oversaw, and executed.
  • And to describe the impact of your work, pick exhibited, presented, displayed, curated, and installed.

Want inspiration for other action verbs you can use? Check out synonyms to commonly used action verbs like Analyze, Complete, Pursue, Leading, Demonstrate.

Highlighting leadership roles

When you're crafting your resume, it's important to show any leadership roles or promotions you've had. This tells hiring managers that you're capable of taking on responsibility and guiding others. Think about times when you've led a project, mentored peers, or been recognized for your work.

Here are ways you might display your leadership experience:

  • Managed a team of artists for a collaborative project, resulting in a successful exhibition.
  • Promoted to lead designer after consistently delivering projects that exceeded expectations.

Also, consider roles outside of direct job experience where you've shown leadership. This could be in volunteer work, art collectives, or community events. For example:

  • Coordinated a community mural project, overseeing volunteers and managing supplies.
  • Elected chairperson of a local art club, planning monthly showcases and workshops.

Essential skills for visual artists

As a visual artist, your resume should highlight your technical and practical skills. These skills show your expertise and your ability to handle various tools and techniques. Make sure you include skills that match the job you're applying for, as there are many types of roles within visual arts.

  • Drawing
  • Painting
  • Photography
  • Adobe Creative Suite
  • Graphic design
  • Illustration
  • Sculpting
  • Printmaking
  • Mixed media
  • Art history knowledge

Include these skills in a dedicated section on your resume. This makes it easier for hiring managers and applicant tracking systems (ATS) to find them. ATS are used by many employers to scan resumes for relevant skills. If you're applying for a job that requires specific software knowledge, like 3D modeling, make sure to include that too. Not all skills will be relevant to every job, so choose the ones that best match the position you want.

Remember to provide examples of how you've used these skills in your work experience section. This can help you show what you can do, instead of just telling. For instance, if you list digital illustration, describe a project where you used this skill to create artwork for a client or an exhibition. This practical evidence of your skills will make your resume stand out.

Quantify your artistic impact

As an artist, you might think your work speaks for itself, but on your resume, numbers can speak volumes. When you use metrics, you make it easy for hiring managers to see your value. Think about how you can measure your work.

Start by considering these questions: How many pieces have you sold? What was the total value of those sales? How many exhibitions have you featured in? Did your work lead to a significant number of people attending an event? Use numbers to show your impact. Here are specific ideas:

  • Include the number of solo or group exhibitions you've participated in. For example: 'Featured in 20 group exhibitions and 5 solo shows.'
  • Mention the size of the audience or sales at events: 'Artwork contributed to a 25% increase in event attendance year-over-year.'
  • Share how many pieces you have sold or how your work has improved sales for a gallery: 'Sold 50 pieces, contributing to a gallery revenue increase of 15%.'
  • Discuss any significant commissions you've completed: 'Commissioned to create 10 large-scale murals for public spaces, enhancing community engagement.'
  • Describe the reach of your work online, if applicable: 'Managed a personal art blog with 10,000 monthly visitors.'
  • Detail any teaching or workshop success: 'Led a workshop with 30 participants, with a repeat attendance rate of 80%.'

Remember, you might have to estimate some of these numbers, but always be honest. If you're unsure, think about the average number of people at shows you've participated in or how many artworks you typically sell in a year. Use these figures to show your impact.

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