How to make an art portfolio PDF

A clear art portfolio PDF helps galleries, open calls, and collectors take your work seriously. This guide covers what to include, how to lay it out, and the fastest free way to build one.

What to include in an art portfolio PDF

A working art portfolio PDF usually contains:

• A cover with your name, the portfolio title, and the year
• A short artist statement (one paragraph is enough)
• One artwork per page, with clear caption: title, medium, dimensions, year, edition, price
• A CV or exhibition list at the back
• Your contact information and website

Layout: one artwork per page

Galleries read portfolios quickly. One artwork per page, centered, with a clean caption below is the standard. Avoid collages of multiple works on a single page unless you're showing a series.

The fastest way to build one

DigitalEyezz's free art catalog builder creates a properly laid-out portfolio PDF in minutes. Drop in your images, add titles and details, and export. The free plan adds a small watermark; the paid plan removes it.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Low-resolution photos — shoot or scan at 300 DPI when possible
• Inconsistent captions — keep title, medium, dimensions, year in the same order on every page
• File size over 10MB — most open call submission forms reject larger files
• Missing contact information on the last page

Related tools

See all artist tools we make, or learn more about the catalog builder.