Megan Garvey

What is an artist statement?

What purpose does it serve?

Does it benefit the work?

Does it serve as a primer for the viewer? (YES)

Should the viewer be primed?

Does the artist statement interfere with the work?

…with the viewer’s ability to project onto it and form a unique perspective?

If a body of work requires an artist statement to make sense and be legible, it is not effective as a body of work.

Why and how did artist statements become the norm?

Should they continue to be the norm?

By participating in the writing of an artist statement, is one proliferating the culture that demands them?

Who is the artist statement for?

…the viewer?

…the artist?

…the work itself?

Are artist statements meant to encompass the entire body of an artist’s work?

Are they restrictive to the growth or change of an artist’s work?

Do the statements themselves change over time?

How many artist statements should an artist have?

One? Many? None?

When is it appropriate for an artist to write an artist statement?

Can I even consider myself an artist?

Why do artists write artist statements?

Do they like it?

I don’t.

I do art so that I don’t have to write in order to communicate my thoughts.

Isn’t that the whole point?

…that artists don’t need words to express ideas?

I don’t have any performative desires. That’s not me.

That’s why I make art.

Is this an artist statement?

Does it fulfill the requirements?

Does it benefit my work?

Maybe not.

…and that’s okay.

I don’t title my work. I don’t make statements on my work.

I work.

…and I make work.

I make art.