Conceptual artist

Description

Conceptual artists have the capacity to choose any material as an artistic tool or/and material to express a creative concept to be presented as an artistic experience to the public. Their work, belonging to the fine arts, can be two-dimensional (drawing, painting, collage), three-dimensional (sculpture, installation) or four-dimensional (moving images, performance).

Other titles

The following job titles also refer to conceptual artist:

conceptual creator
concept artist

Minimum qualifications

No formal educational credential is generally required to work as conceptual artist. However, this requirement may differ in some countries.

ISCO skill level

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

  • the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
  • the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
  • the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Conceptual artist is a Skill level 4 occupation.

Conceptual artist career path

Similar occupations

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to conceptual artist.

digital artist
artistic painter
street artist
performance artist
glass artist

Long term prospects

These occupations require some skills and knowledge of conceptual artist. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of conceptual artist with a significant experience and/or extensive training.

Essential knowledge and skills

Essential knowledge

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of conceptual artist.

Labour legislation: Legislation, on a national or international level, that governs labour conditions in various fields between labour parties such as the government, employees, employers, and trade unions.
Intellectual property law: The regulations that govern the set of rights protecting products of the intellect from unlawful infringement.
Art history: The history of art and artists, the artistic trends throughout centuries and their contemporary evolutions.

Essential skills and competences

These skills are necessary for the role of conceptual artist.

Create artwork: Cut, shape, fit, join, mould, or otherwise manipulate materials in an attempt to create a selected artwork – be the technical processes not mastered by the artist or used as a specialist.
Adapt artistic plan to location: Adjust plans to other locations with regards to the artistic concept.
Maintain an artistic portfolio: Maintain portfolios of artistic work to show styles, interests, abilities and realisations.
Select artistic materials to create artworks: Select artistic materials based on strength, colour, texture, balance, weight, size, and other characteristics that should guarantee the feasibility of the artistic creation regarding the expected shape, color, etc. – even thought the result might vary from it. Artistic materials such as paint, ink, water colours, charcoal, oil, or computer software can be used as much as garbage, living products (fruits, etc) and any kind of material depending on the creative project.
Monitor art scene developments: Monitor artistic events, trends, and other developments. Read recent art publications in order to develop ideas and to keep in touch with relevant art world activities.
Develop artistic research framework: Develop a framework for investigation on artistic issues.
Study artistic techniques: Study a variety of artistic techniques and learn how to apply them in concrete artistic projects.
Confer on artwork: Introduce and discuss the nature and content of art work, achieved or to be produced with an audience, art directors, catalogue editors, journalists, and other parties of interest.
Contextualise artistic work: Identify influences and situate your work within a specific trend which may be of an artistic, aesthetic, or philosophical natures. Analyse the evolution of artistic trends, consult experts in the field, attend events, etc.
Make artistic processes explicit: Explain the artistic creation endeavour as an intellectual and/or sensitive process being part of a cultural environment, and as a valuable pursuit of individual development.
Define artistic approach: Define your own artistic approach by analysing your previous work and your expertise, identifying the components of your creative signature, and starting from these explorations to describe your artistic vision.
Gather reference materials for artwork: Gather samples of the materials you expect to use in the creation process, especially if the desired piece of art necessitates the intervention of qualified workers or specific production processes.

Optional knowledge and skills

Optional knowledge

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of conceptual artist. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

Optional skills and competences

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of conceptual artist. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

Assess conservation needs: Assess and list the needs for conservation/restoration, in relation to current use and planned future use.
Plan art educational activities: Plan and implement artistic facilities, performance, venues and museum-related educational activities and events.
Manage artistic project: Manage an artistic project. Determine project needs. Establish partnerships. Manage the budget, schedule, contractual agreements and assess the project.
Monitor sociological trends: Identify and investigate sociological trends and movements in society.
Develop educational resources: Create and develop educational resources for visitors, school groups, families and special interest groups.
Use artistic materials for drawing: Use artistic materials such as paint, paintbrushes, ink, watercolours, charcoal, oil, or computer software to create artwork.
Ensure safety of exercise environment: Select the correct training environment and assess risks to ensure it provides a safe, clean and friendly fitness environment and that it will be the best use of the environment in which clients are exercising.
Develop artistic project budgets: Developing artistic project budgets for approval, estimating deadlines and material costs.
Develop educational activities: Develop speeches, activities and workshops in order to foster access and comprehension to the artistic creation processes. It can address a particular cultural and artistic event such as a show or an exhibition, or it can be related to a specific discipline (theatre, dance, drawing, music, photography etc.). Liaise with storytelles, craftspeople and artists.
Create pen-and-paper images: Draw pen-and-paper images and prepare them to be edited, scanned, coloured, textured and digitally animated.
Keep personal administration: File and organise personal administration documents comprehensively.
Promote yourself: Market one’s own strengths in terms of skills and knowledge.
Present exhibition: Present an exhibition and give educational lectures in a comprehensible way that is attractive to the public.
Develop animations: Design and develop visual animations using creativity and computer skills. Make objects or characters appear lifelike by manipulating light, colour, texture, shadow, and transparency, or manipulating static images to give the illusion of motion.
Design graphics: Apply a variety of visual techniques in order to design graphic material. Combine graphical elements to communicate concepts and ideas.
Participate in artistic mediation activities: Participate in cultural and artistic mediation activities: announce the activity, give a presentation or talk related to a piece of art or an exhibition, teach a class or a group, lead artistic mediation activities, lead or participate in a public discussion.

ISCO group and title

2651 – Visual artists

 

 


 

 

References
  1. Conceptual artist – ESCO
Last updated on August 8, 2022