art history personal statement

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Art History Personal Statement Guide

The idea behind personal statements is to give universities a clear picture of candidates who are applying to study there. They want to be certain that whoever joins as a student will have the intellect and drive to be successful at that institution.

The aim of personal statements isn’t to tell experts what their subject is about, but rather how you have come to it, what your thoughts about it are, and what about it really fascinates you. It also serves to explain to admissions tutors why you want to study that subject over any other, but it cannot, of course, be designed around any one institution if you’re applying to more than one since each receives the same statement.

Finally, a personal statement helps tutors to decide who to admit onto their courses as they’re eager to have those who’ll benefit most as their students. With all this in mind, where do you begin? This guide will support you through the writing of the statement and address various points along the way, namely:

• Why are Personal Statements Important?
• What Should I Include in an Art History Personal Statement?  
• What Should I Avoid in an Art History Personal Statement?  

Advice on How to Start an Art History Personal Statement  

Advice on how to finish an art history personal statement  .

What Should I Avoid in an Art History Personal Statement ?  

Any personal statement that begins with a cliché like ‘What is art?’ or ‘Art is the apogee of human self-expression’ immediately turns the reader’s attention off. Avoid clichés, familiar language, quotations, and overly elaborate prose.

Also avoid talking too much about anything other than you, so it’s fine if you drop the name of your favourite painting or artist into the statement somewhere, but don’t begin an involved analysis of the painting.

It may sound obvious, but also don’t lie. If you’re called for an interview, you’ll be questioned in depth on what you put into the statement, so you need to be certain in your knowledge of it.

Finally, avoid being specific about universities if you’re applying to more than one, but be as specific as possible about yourself.

Register to access our complimentary e-book "So You Want To Go To Oxbridge? Tell me about a banana…"

Many people are tempted to begin an art history personal statement with a sweeping observation about art in general or with a quotation from a critic; we don't recommend this. Begin by expressing in captivating but simple and direct language how you came to be absorbed by the subject and why you wish to study it at university.

The opening line should be memorable, but for the right reasons . Don’t set out to shock or provoke as you want the universities to been intrigued by you in a positive way. Remember that you want them to want to meet you and, ultimately, teach you for the next three years a at least.

Sometimes the beginning of the statement is the hardest to write, so brainstorm all the reasons why you’re interested in it and go from there.

You’ve hopefully followed a good structure for your statement and each section has led seamlessly onto the next, so the conclusion should feel like it’s coming at the right time.

The purpose of the conclusion is to condense your motivation and interest for the reader once more, without sounding repetitive. It should reinforce the points you’ve made, and make it sound like the only reasonable next step would be for you to embark on an art history degree.

Remember that you’ll be leaving the reader with another impression along with the first one in the introduction, so ensure it paints you in the best light and makes the reader want to meet you.

• What are some Tips for Writing a Strong Art History Personal Statement?
• How Long Should my Art History Personal Statement Be?
• What Kind of Extracurricular Activities Should I Include in my Art History Personal Statement?
• How Can I Tailor my Art History Personal Statement to the Oxford/Cambridge Course?

The visual arts have a huge specialist lexicon all to themselves. Words like pentimento , chiaroscuro , and geoglyph are common currency in the world of art. It’s therefore good to show some knowledge of these terms, perhaps when describing some art which particularly enticed you, but don’t overuse them (more than two is probably too many) as it will sound like you're forcing them in for the sake of it.

Art history is also a multidisciplinary subject that borders many other disciplines from conventional history and literature to psychology and chemistry. If you can show you have derived skills from other subjects that you could put to use during your degree, then so much the better. If you haven’t such skills, then show a readiness to develop them. Universities like to see you won’t be limited by either your current skillset or your willingness to develop further skills along the way.

The UCAS personal statement is limited to 4000 characters, which includes spaces, or 47 lines of the UCAS form (it depends on which you reach soonest). In a way, it’s a bit of a test to see if you can condense your thoughts concisely and precisely to communicate your desired meaning effectively, but also to make it fair to all candidates writing them (and admissions tutors reading them!)

The most obvious activities are those that encourage you to think deeply about art. Nearly every art history personal statement will talk about gallery or museum visits, which is fine, but try to stand out through your unique observations and thoughts about what you saw. Perhaps you saw an unusual depiction on an elephant tusk or came across an icon you were enticed by for some reason.

Whatever you include, try to make it interesting. Other worthwhile activities could be volunteering in museums or galleries, where you’d be assisting with the public perception and consumption of art, or doing a course either in fine art or an aspect of art history.

The key is to think outside of the box, and for every activity you mention, clearly state how it links to important maths-related skills.   

Whilst you cannot tailor your statement to one university too closely (since it's the same statement for all options on your UCAS form), you can show Oxbridge that you're aiming high in your applications.

It probably comes as no surprise that Oxford and Cambridge put a great emphasis on reading around your subject, even before you’ve started the course. The first place to look are their websites to see if they’ve recommended any titles to start with; remember, though, that it’s not just enough to read the books – you have to think about them too, so write notes and develop views.

It would be beneficial for the Oxford and Cambridge courses if you could also read one or more European foreign language, like French, German or Italian, as much of the critical material for art history is published in these languages. If you can, then mention is briefly, perhaps by implication when referring to an article or book you read.

Book your Art History Personal Statement Package

You can contact our Oxbridge-graduate Consultants on +44 (0) 20 7499 2394 or email [email protected] to discuss our personal statement packages.  

If you’d like to know more about Art History, we have admissions test guidance and interview preparation readily available.  

Our Oxbridge-graduate consultants are available between 9.00 am – 5.00 pm from Monday to Friday, with additional evening availability when requested.

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Art history personal statement example.

During my life I discovered that: “Art is the password to the self”. It’s a personable path that allows us to recreative ourselves, to explore our past and even allows us to identify abstract feelings and ideas into something concrete. When I noticed in Vincent Van Gogh paintings, how he provided an illusion of movement and the idea that nothing is stable, I felt driven to learn to see the world as he did and keep exploring the power of representation in art. Many times, I sat down and tried to create my own version of one of his pieces, but while I was looking for colors in my pallet, I felt like the colors appear on their own. As an artist myself, I rather select colors darker and bluer, but when I had his painting in front of me as a reference, I needed to understand my goal of trying to have a relationship with all surroundings. Art traduce thoughts and provides ways of finding yourself, and Vincent was looking for a state of peace and simple qualities. In addition, I am also passionate about films and photography. It’s fascinating how some angels can manipulate the narrative of events. There are allegories of our reality. The use of colors also affects their audiences and the use of their resources is crucial for storytelling. Why do curators use white walls for some exhibitions? Or why not? These are some questions that we can ask ourselves that explore the intention behind the artist, the curators or the museum. I graduated high school in a bilingual school where, I enrolled in literature seminars, where we discussed Latin-American writers, a film club where we watched and analyzed different old classic movies, a musical group where I played the guitar, and a drama club in which we performed many musicals in front of the whole school. I was also able to take many Cambridge exams such as: PET and FCE. And in different circumstances, I got selected to represent my district in an Argentinian Handball tournament, where we won second place in 2009. I have always been asking people and myself: what is art. An answer that doesn’t only correlate to things and aspects that are beautiful, but also about the value of history and culture which represent people, movements, political influence and style, on a path that doesn’t end. For me, art has represented a magical sense which reflects the image of an iceberg and the ambition to fully understand it, such as the self. From then on, I often asked myself: “How many colors are there in the sky?” With a deeper look, we can find that there are more than ten. While attending painting classes, the unlimited possibilities of tones of colors always kept me trying to do an extra mile in this path. Apart from continuing with my practice thought painting, I would like to work in museums or schools where I could work to engage with people. I moved from Argentina to Budapest, Hungary; by getting a scholarship to learn Hungarian at Balassi Intezet in 2014. As the daughter of a marriage of dual heritage, Hungarian and Danish, I grow up full of diverse cultures, traditions and even languages. Coming to Europe was the best decision I have done in my young career. It opened many doors that allowed me to get deeper into the art. I finished the year, having gained an Intermediate level of Hungarian while I also got the chance to travel to places, where I could stand in front of unique art pieces. So, when the time came to go back home, instead I decided to stay in Hungary. As soon as I decided to stay without a degree or a job, my search began, and it took me to McDaniel College, where I got the chance to enroll in College in a city I loved. I started focusing on art classes where I learned about practical techniques about drawing, painting, collage, some basic ideas about graphic design, history of art, modern art, sacred architecture, the art of India, Japan and China. During my second year I also started to get interested in Psychology. Thus, I decided to reach a double major degree; therefore, I also took classes where I learned about cognitive psychology, statistics, and social and developmental psychology. Although I graduated with a double major in Art History and Psychology, my instinct and my technical skills feel more driven by art, but counting with a base in Psychology it allowed me to know myself a bit better and others, while I also tried to understand concepts with a more analytical view, allowing my singular personality features to evolve into a deep-seated love for art and others. During my college years, I took part in the college newspaper and student council where my purpose was to guide other students to be more aware of many topics. In many occasions, I exposed my artwork along with other students. I attended the 58th Annual EB-ACA Conference as a volunteer to help set up the event and provided general assistance, where also got the chance to attend many interesting lectures about the future of therapy. During my third year I took an internship at Cultivini Wine to let my journalism skills grow more. However, it was not always easy because unlike other students I also worked full-time to support myself during my studies. My working experience in IT support and HR, allowed get gain a deeper knowledge in technology and work-related processes. I can say I gained as much professional experience and a sense of responsibility that keeps helping me all the way through. Although the course of my life is most likely going to be transient and complex, art will always keep me grounded. Museum are sacred places to me, there are institution that provided education and perspective on real issues that should concern us all. Art is essential because it keeps inviting us to ask as many questions as possible and it becomes a place of encounter within the self, cultures, pollical ideologies and history.

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I am looking forward to apply to many UK schools

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History of Art Personal Statement

Sample History of Art Personal Statement

For as long as I can remember I have been passionate about art. It is easy to look at a work of art and make a quick judgement about its general appeal, but it takes a more inquisitive mind to appreciate the methods behind artwork, the intentions of the artists and the thousands of years of rich and vibrant history art has to offer us. I have studied art and history of art for several years and I feel that my passion is only ever enthused, and my thirst for knowledge is never satiated. I find myself compelled to find out more about the underlying meanings within sculpture, architecture, artwork etc, and I am always eager to find the story which completes the message. Although I have been feeding my love of art for my entire life, my main desire is to learn and discover more about the subject.

I feel that studying this course will provide me with all of the knowledge and opportunities I will need to become an expert in this subject. I am particularly interested in the development of abstract and conceptual art during the nineteenth, twentieth and twenty-first centuries, and this course will allow me to build on my already-extensive knowledge of this topic. I am devoted to this study, and I therefore feel I am an ideal candidate for the course. My determination to do well, coupled with my genuine interest in the subject matter, make me a model student who will hopefully represent the University proudly and successfully. In the past I have been elected as a representative of my year group by my peers, and I hope to involve myself in the University community in a similar fashion.

My academic record is well above average. In 2010 I sat 9 GCSE’s and received high grades. My A levels compromised of History of Art and Art, and I achieved B’s in both of these subjects. Alongside my education I have participated in many extra-curricular activates and hobbies. I have learnt the clarinet to grade three and gained an advanced certificate from the English Speaking Board. I have also gained Bronze and Silver in the Duke of Edinburgh Awards and I am currently on track to achieve Gold.

A high amount of my extra-curricular experiences have centred on my love for Art. During Sixth Form I was a member of the History of Art Society which allowed me to attend lectures covering different periods of art and get involved with debates on the topic. On occasion I was chosen to represent the society in debates, because of my passionate views and in-depth knowledge. I am fortunate enough to have grown up in several countries, and therefore have experienced a rich heritage of art. In my spare time I have visited art galleries across the world, including the Tokyo Modern Art Gallery, New York galleries such as the famous Metropolitan Museum of Art and an exhibit of Middle Eastern art in the UAE. I also frequent London galleries whenever possible, including smaller exhibits of experimental art from students and local individuals.

My work experience has once again focused on my love of art. I was inspired by my placement at an architect’s office in Liverpool where I had the opportunity to visit construction sites and witness the collaborative work of the architects’ designs. I have spent time volunteering at the ‘Mostyn’ gallery in Llanudno, where I became fully immersed in the exciting processes that precede the launch of new exhibitions. My experience has also had an international component: recently I travelled to India to volunteer at an art gallery in Keralan city of Trivandrum. Next year I will be spending time working at the ‘Manarat’ museum in Abu Dhabi. I believe that these experiences will increase my understanding of art, the history of art and the practical application of this knowledge.

I am yet to make a firm decision regarding my future, but the one thing I am certain of is that it revolves around Art. Although undecided on a defined career path I am confident that this course will furnish me with all of the necessary knowledge and skills to embark on an enjoyable and exciting future profession.

We hope this example of a history of art personal statement has been helpful.

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History of Art

Author: maria, applied in: winter 2020, university offers: ucl, the courltaut institute of art, exeter, birmingham, sussex.

"Alright, I'm here, so what's the big deal with this art thing?". Most people step into a museum and have no idea what they're doing. They are blissfully unaware of two things: one, art is not a concept exclusive to museums; and two, looking is easy, but seeing is the tricky part. So, they look around a few rooms for an hour or two, choose the "prettiest" of the bunch as their favorite piece, and might even try to read the information on signs nearby, but give up after realizing it does not explain the artwork at hand. This had been my own experience for as long as I could remember. I was always left frustrated and dissatisfied when as a kid, I would leave these supposedly legendary museums like El Prado or The Metropolitan feeling like I had been staring at computer desktop backgrounds for an hour. Nonetheless, I still wanted to go back and try again, to see if this time would be different because what I did understand was that there was something I was missing.

As it turns out, the key came in asking the right questions, the most basic and complex of which was simply "what is art?". It took me a while to realize that there was more to it than paintings and sculptures, and this epiphany came from film. Having watched anything from Hollywood classics to animated television shows from a young age, film had been an easier to digest version of fundamental concepts such as lighting, color, texture, and framing, and I quickly became fixated on video essays explaining the evolution and use of these techniques to better communicate story points to the viewer. I eventually applied them on my own to other works outside of film. It became particularly useful academically during an analysis of the film The King's Speech (2010), in which I compared its cinematography techniques to the style of french impressionist painters, and displayed the effects of context both in the creation of the film and the story itself.

However, music was my more immediate introduction to the importance of context. Within my household, you can find someone listening to baroque composers, rock and roll icons, or pop princesses at any given moment, and understanding the situation each artist found themselves in, both personally and historically, became the most interesting part of any conversation. It is expected to apply one's own emotions or perspective into their perception of anything, but knowing what led each artist to create a certain piece made it that much more intricate, as it now held an infinite amount of different meanings and interpretations. Even if the original intent was simply to create something aesthetically pleasing, or to pay the rent, this just makes grasping how it became something so important to other people that much more fascinating. It became a personal matter when I began to develop artistically and found myself with sincere empathy and appreciation of artists' need to feel seen, and awareness of the deep emotional impact art can have. It also drew my attention towards the techniques they used, and how they themselves found inspiration in their own idols.

I now find myself in their place, wanting to understand them better, to know the situation they created in, to see what they hid from the untrained eye and how they did so, in hopes of bringing the lessons they learned into my own work. Not only this, but I also hope to avoid that same sense of bewilderment that I had for so long in others, and to make the experience of interpretation something based on research and cultivated opinion rather than just a guessing game based on instinct.

Please note UCAS will detect any form of plagiarism. PSE and its contributors do not take any responsibility for the way in which personal statements are used.