An artist's website is the digital equivalent into a physical studio and at the same time acts as a gallery, business card and art catalog. The first impression is formed in just 150 milliseconds, which decides whether visitors are still interested in art and the artist.
It is therefore of great importance that artists consciously and professionally build their online presence. A well -designed website enables an audience to be addressed worldwide, which can discover and appreciate the works of art offered, whether paintings or sculptures.
While creative processes take your time, this also applies to the planning and design of an artist website that should meet demands on aesthetics and professional competence.
Introduction to web design and its role in self -presentation

photo by Daniel Korpai @danielkorpai, via Unsplash
Web design is much more than the interaction of colors, computer code and shapes; It is the artistic connection of function and aesthetics. An effective web design not only addresses visually, but also ensures that information and interaction options are intuitive and easily accessible.
It is particularly important for artists that their web design uniqueness against mirrors T and is optimized for different devices.
In the following video we observe how the renowned architecture photographer and web designer Mike Kelley from his expert perspective takes a look at 15 examples of artist websites and online portfolios and shares his opinion
From the perspective of a web designer, he analyzes what he believes works well and what could be improved. So we quickly get an overview of which factors we should pay particular attention to when building our own website or online portfolios.
What is web design?
Web design includes the design and development of websites, whereby aspects such as layout, color scheme, typography and visual language play a central role. The aim is to design a website that is not only visually appealing, but also functional and user -friendly.
Visual communication contributes significantly to how visitors perceive the brand and the content.
Why is good web design important?
A good web design is crucial for the user -friendliness and success of a website. It contributes to a positive user experience, which increases the length of stay on the page and the likelihood that visitors become customers.
Accessibility is also an important aspect to ensure that the website can be used by all people, regardless of its skills or impairments.
How do you create your own website as an artist?
For a little less technically experienced people, it may be difficult at first to create your own website. However, a high -quality website tool These tools offer a variety of templates and design options that enable users to design an appealing and professional website without having to have extensive knowledge of web design.
In addition, it is advisable to consider what should be integrated on the website and which style is preferred. The best way to harmonize these things with their own works of art and personal style in order to create a uniform appearance.
Elements of a successful artist web design

photo of Kelly Sikkema @kellysikkema, via Unsplash
A convincing artist web design consists of several crucial components. From the homepage to the detailed "About me" page, each element should contribute to a professional and appealing overall appearance. The most important components and their importance are emphasized below.
Home: The first impression counts
The design of the homepage is crucial to make visitors curious and keep them on the website. A clear structure, interesting visual elements and concise information about the artist and his works are essential.
Outdated information or overloaded elements that visitors distract should be avoided. Instead, the homepage should be both informative and inviting to leave a positive first impression.
Artistic portfolio pages
The artistic portfolio is the heart of every artist website. High -quality images of the work, detailed descriptions and, if necessary, provide information about availability and purchase options for added value.
It is important that the portfolio offers an authentic insight into the individual style and the technology of the artist. In this way, potential buyers and interested parties can gain an impression of the diversity and quality of the artistic works.
About me: the artist behind the works
The section on me on a personal artist website offers the opportunity to examine the creative career and artistic philosophy.
Personal stories and anecdotes create a bond between the artist and the visitors. Furthermore, Contact Us should be placed clearly visible to current and future exhibitions in order to underline the topicality of the website.
Artists, art critics and lecturer demonstrates core elements of a successful artist website
In the following video you will receive an industry-proven step-by-step instructions to create a professional artist website. This comes from a real industry professional.
Julien Delagrange is an art historian, contemporary artist and founder and director of CAI (Contemporary Art Issue) . Delagrange studied art sciences at the University of Gent, Belgium, and worked for the Center for Fine Arts (Bozar) in Brussels, the Jan-Cruysse Foundation and the University Library Ghent and, as an art critic and lecturer, contributed to the international contemporary contemporary art scene.
He also works as a curator, gallery manager, consultant and as an artist. As an artist, he is represented by the Sabine Bayasli gallery in Paris, France, and the Space60 gallery in Antwerp, Belgium.
The three biggest mistakes in web design
The design of a website plays a crucial role in the success of a company in the online area. Unfortunately, however, mistakes are often made that can affect the user experience and be able to deter potential customers. Here are the three biggest mistakes made in web design.
Error #1
The first mistake is the neglect of user -friendliness . A website should be easy to navigate, with clear menus and easily accessible information. However, too many elements and functions are often added that can confuse and overwhelm the user. It is important that visitors find quickly and easily what they are looking for, otherwise they quickly lose interest and leave the site.
Error #2

Photo by Amélie Mourichon @amayli, via Unsplash
The second error is poor optimization for mobile devices . At a time when the majority of internet users access websites tablets
This means that the design must be reaction quickly and automatically adapts to the screen size. If a website is poorly displayed on a mobile device, potential customers will usually jump directly.
Error #3
The third mistake is neglecting loading times . Nobody likes to wait a long time for a website to load. A high loading time can not only affect the user experience, but also negatively influence the ranking in search engines.
It is therefore important that images, videos and other files are optimized to shorten the loading times. A suitable website builder tool can help reduce the file sizes and improve performance.

Owner and managing director of Kunstplaza . Publicist, editor and passionate blogger in the field of art, design and creativity since 2011. Successful conclusion in web design as part of a university degree (2008). Further development of creativity techniques through courses in free drawing, expression painting and theatre/acting. Profound knowledge of the art market through many years of journalistic research and numerous collaborations with actors/institutions from art and culture.