In an ever-evolving digital world, artist’s websites function as a digital destination where an artist can consolidate and showcase their work, connect with potential buyers, and accelerate their art careers.
But wait! there is so much more…Let’s look at the key reasons why every professional artist need a website and how it can significantly benefit their careers.
1. Demonstration of Commitment as an Artist
An artist’s website demonstrates to potential collaborators, galleries, and clients that you are dedicated to your practice and take your work seriously. The time, effort, and investment required to build a website show professionalism and sets you apart from hobbyists.
Pro Tip: Purchasing your own domain name and hosting boosts your credibility. Avoid free website platforms that often add their own branding to your domain and footer. This can detract from your professional image (e.g., www.yourname.wixsite.com vs. www.yourname.com).
2. Enhanced Professional Image
A well-designed artist’s website elevates your professional presence, demonstrating that you’re organised, polished, capable, and prepared for new opportunities. Having an artist website has become an industry standard, and not having one could work against you.
Ask yourself: Would you prefer to send a link to your Instagram profile or a professionally designed website to a gallery or buyer?
3. High-Quality Presentation of Work
Your website allows you to present your artwork in a clean, professional manner with high-quality photographs.
Unlike social media, where your content is often candid with unfinished work or personal posts, your artist’s website lets you curate and showcase only your best work.
4. Requirement for Proposals and Opportunities
Many galleries, residencies, and grant applications now require applicants to have a website. Not having an artist’s website could cause your submission to be overlooked in competitive processes.
Reminder: Ensure all your information—portfolio, bio, artist statement—is easily accessible on your site for quick reference during application reviews.
5. Central Hub for Interested Audiences
A website can serve as a centralised platform for potential clients, collaborators, and media, to learn more about your art.
Unlike fragmented content spread across the web, your artist’s website gives a comprehensive and professional overview of your work in one easily locatable destination.
6. Comprehensive Digital Portfolio
An artist’s website acts as a permanent, well-organised portfolio that allows you to categorise your work by year, medium, or series. This offers visitors a seamless experience as they try to understand your artistic career.
7. Consolidation of Artist Statement, Bio, and CV
Having a dedicated space on your website for your artist statement, bio, and CV ensures that anyone interested in your work can easily find these texts. This saves the step of emailing you to request this information, streamlining your communication with galleries or curators.
8. Direct Contact Point for Inquiries
An artist’s website provides a professional and direct method for potential clients or collaborators to contact you. Unlike social media, where communication can get lost in private messages, your website offers explicit ways to get in touch, ensuring you don’t miss any important inquiries.
9. Full Creative Control Over Presentation
Owning a website means that you have total control over how your work and brand are displayed. You’re not limited by social media restrictions or algorithms. Instead, your artist’s website can fully reflect your creative vision.
10. Reference point for Social Media and Links
Many artists maintain a presence across different platforms, but your website should serve as the anchor for all of your online activity. A well-designed artist’s website links to your social profiles and any third-party mentions that you would like to include. This helps your audience find everything they need in one place.
11. Opportunity to Build and Own a Mailing List
Your artist’s website gives you the opportunity to build a mailing list, allowing you to communicate directly with your audience.
Unlike social media platforms, where algorithms can limit your visibility, with potential account restrictions or glitches can cause you to lose your hard earnt audience. A mailing list is something you own and control, ensuring your messages reach your followers.
12. Option to Create an Online Shop
If you are looking to sell your art online, an e-commerce section on your artist’s website provides a streamlined way to automate transactions. You can also set up commission requests and sales through your website, giving you complete control over your sales.
13. Scalability and Customisation Potential
As your career evolves, your website can grow with you. Whether you need to add new projects, update your portfolio, or include multimedia elements, your artist’s website offers limitless customisation options to reflect your evolving practice.
14. Search Engine Optimization (SEO) for Increased Visibility
By optimising your artist’s website with an SEO strategy, you increase your chances of appearing higher in search engine results. This makes it easier for people searching for related art or services to find you online, potentially driving more traffic and increasing exposure.
15. Blogging for Traffic and Reputation Building
Including a blog on your artist’s website allows you to share insights about your work, artistic process, or industry commentary. Blogging not only drives traffic to your site but also helps build your reputation as an expert in your field.
16. Showcase of Artistic Brand Identity
Your artist’s website is a reflection of your artistic identity. From the layout and design to the visuals you present, your website creates a cohesive brand that resonates with your audience and distinguishes you from other artists.
17. Insight into Artistic Practice
Through your artist’s website, visitors can gain a deeper understanding of your practice. Larger images, detailed descriptions, and access to your artist statement help construct a comprehensive picture of your art practice.
18. Demonstration of Digital Competency
Having a well-designed, functioning artist’s website proves that you are adaptable and capable of embracing digital trends. In a world where technology dominates, demonstrating digital competency can be essential to securing opportunities.
19. Press Kit for Media and Journalists
Your artist’s website can also serve as a press kit, offering downloadable images, texts, and exhibition details for journalists. Having this information readily available increases your chances of being featured in media coverage.
20. Global Reach and 24/7 Accessibility
Your website is available to a global audience, 24/7, allowing anyone, anywhere, to access your work. Unlike physical galleries that are limited by geography and opening hours, your artist’s website ensures constant exposure to potential buyers and collaborators.
21. Analytics for Audience Insights
By implementing tools like Google Analytics, you can track who visits your artist’s website, how they found you, and which pages they spend the most time on. These insights help you refine your content and understand your audience better.
22. Archive of Past Works
Finally, your website acts as a digital archive of your work, allowing both you and your audience to reflect on your artistic journey. Over time, it becomes a valuable resource for revisiting past projects and understanding your growth as an artist.
Final Thoughts
By investing in a well-constructed artist’s website, you not only improve your professional image but also increase your visibility and access to new opportunities.
Whether you’re looking to build a portfolio, sell your work, or simply establish a more polished online presence, your website is a crucial part of your artistic toolkit.
Building a website can seem like a necessary but daunting task especially to artists who are used to making art, not working with technology. Luckily, we are here to help. We offer artist website services specifically tailored to you while also aligning with professional industry standard. If you would like to learn more, visit our services page or contact us to see how we can help you. Even if you would just like some free advice, get in touch!
