A strong art portfolio site is a clear edit of your work, not an inventory of everything you've made. Start with the visitor and the artwork. The platform, theme, and effects come after those decisions.

  1. 01

    Choose the job of the site

    Decide who needs to understand your work: a curator, client, gallery, collaborator, or collector. Then choose one main action for them—view a body of work, read project context, email you, or follow a shop link. That decision keeps the navigation and home page focused.

  2. 02

    Select a tight edit

    Lead with the strongest five to twelve pieces that represent the direction you want more of. Group related work into projects or mediums. Repetition is useful when it shows a body of work; it is noise when several images make the same point. Ask a trusted person to identify where their attention drops.

  3. 03

    Prepare images for the web

    Use accurate color, clean crops, and consistent documentation. Export JPEG or WebP for most photographs and PNG when transparency or crisp graphic edges matter. Keep enough detail for a large screen while avoiding enormous source files. Descriptive filenames also make the working archive easier to manage.

  4. 04

    Build a simple structure

    A useful starting structure is Home, Work or Projects, and About. The home page gives a quick edit; project pages create context; About holds a short biography, location, contact route, social links, and an optional résumé. Add pages only when they give visitors a clearer path through the work.

  5. 05

    Write the supporting copy

    Use specific page titles and concise captions. For individual works, include the title, year, medium, and dimensions when they matter. Write the biography in plain language: what you make, the questions or materials guiding it, and where you work. Put a direct email address or contact route where it can be found.

  6. 06

    Design around the artwork

    Choose one readable type system, a restrained palette, and generous spacing. Keep image sizes and relationships intentional. A freeform canvas can echo a studio wall; a grid can help a large archive scan quickly. Check that every decorative choice supports the work instead of becoming the first thing a visitor remembers.

  7. 07

    Add search and sharing details

    Give every page a distinct browser title and a short description that says whose work it is and what the page contains. Write meaningful image descriptions where the system supports them. Choose a representative sharing image, then preview how the site looks when its link is sent in a message.

  8. 08

    Test, publish, and keep editing

    Open every page on a phone and computer. Check navigation, captions, external links, contact details, and loading speed. Ask someone unfamiliar with the work to find a project and contact you. Publish when the path is clear, then revisit the edit as new work replaces old work.

What to gather before you start

  • Five to twelve finished pieces for the first edit
  • Web-ready images and a record of titles, dates, materials, and dimensions
  • A short biography and a current email address
  • Links to relevant social profiles, a shop, gallery, or résumé
  • A domain you own, if you want one; an included hangwork.art address also works

When those pieces are ready, follow the Hangwork setup guide from blank page through publishing.