A Practical Guide for Early-Stage Artists
This guide was developed by Casa Oxente to help new artists prepare a portfolio. It is a technical tool that is often requested in public notices, residencies, fairs, training programs and artistic selection processes.
A good portfolio should clearly present the artist's work, their main series or projects, and essential contact details. There is no single formula, but there are recommended structures - and common mistakes to avoid.
Casa Oxente welcomes artists' portfolios. To make the process of preparing this document easier, we have organized the main points that make up an objective, coherent and functional portfolio.
What is a portfolio?
A portfolio is a document (usually in PDF format) that brings together a representative selection of an artist's work, with images, technical information and a brief descriptive text. Its main purpose is to present the artist clearly to interlocutors such as curators, jurors, venue coordinators and cultural institutions.
Recommended structure
Below is a basic structure that can be adapted according to each artist's profile:
1. Capa
- Artist's name
- Featured image (recent or representative work)
- Contact: e-mail, social networks, website (if any)
2. Biografia curta
Third-person text with:
- Full name
- Place of birth and city where you live
- Artistic languages you use
- A brief summary of your artistic career
Example:
João Silva (b. 1997, Aracaju) is a visual artist who works with painting, collage and textile objects. He currently lives and produces in Recife. With a degree in visual arts from UFS, he has attended workshops and exhibitions in independent spaces in Brazil, France and Portugal.
3. Presentation text / Research topic
An explanatory paragraph about the focus of the work: themes, languages, technical approaches. The purpose of this section is to objectively situate the reader.
Avoid generic or very abstract phrases. Use simple, direct language. Prefer “investigates the relationship between the body and urban space” to “explores hybrid poetics by tensioning ontological boundaries”.
4. Projetos ou séries
For each series or project, include:
- Series name
- Short text (5 to 10 lines) explaining the context and objectives
- Artwork technical data sheet: title, technique, dimensions, year, edition (if any)
- 3 to 5 images per project (well photographed)
Note: if you still don't have a complete series, present individual works with the appropriate technical information.
5. Currículo artístico
Only include what is relevant to your artistic trajectory:
- Exhibitions (group and solo)
- Residencies or training programs
- Awards or mentions
- Relevant courses
It is not necessary to list the entire academic or school transcript.
6. Contatos e links
- Active e-mail
- Instagram or another social network (if used as a visual portfolio)
- Link to website or online portfolio, if any
Technical tips
- Prefer the PDF format (ideally between 5 and 15 pages)
- Name the file clearly: portfolio_artist_name_year.pdf
- Avoid heavy files (maximum recommended: 10 MB)
- Organize it with visual consistency and graphic alignment
- Check spelling and grammar
- Use imagens com boa resolução (mas otimizadas para web)
Free tools to build your portfolio
Final considerations
This guide is a starting point. Each artist can (and should) adapt the structure to their own practice, without losing sight of the basic technical criteria of organization, legibility and clarity.
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