How do you write text for an exhibition wall?
Elijah King
Updated on March 17, 2026
How do you write text for an exhibition wall?
We have compiled some pointers to help you write a compelling description and successfully introduce your exhibition to your visitors, so keep reading!
- Include the ‘Big Idea’
- Don’t Repeat Your Bio.
- Avoid “Artspeak”
- Don’t dumb it down too much.
- Keep the structure short and simple.
How do you write text in a museum?
Six Tips for Writing Effective Exhibit Labels
- Keep Your Visitors in Mind. Writing with your audience in mind is crucial to creating clear and concise exhibit labels.
- Keep the Text Short & Simple.
- Keep Your Writing Active.
- Don’t be Boring.
- Keep it Casual & Conversational.
- Bring Objects to Life.
How do you write a museum wall label?
Your art labels should include your name, object title, and media/support/technique—at a minimum. A retrospective of your work should also include the dates. In a one-person exhibition, your name need not be as prominent on labels and you might, instead, make the title larger and put it before your name.
What information is written on a museum label?
Museum labels tend to list the artist’s name, the artwork’s name, the year the art was completed, and the materials used. They may also include a summary, description, the years the artist lived, and the dimensions of the work.
What is a museum wall text?
Museum Wall labels provide visitors with a complete visual experience. Instead of using word wall cards, custom dry transfer wall labels from Image Transfers enhance the overall museum experience for your visitors.
What should an exhibition text include?
Exhibition text (500 characters maximum per artwork) The exhibition text should also include a brief outline of the original intentions of the work (500 characters maximum per artwork…about 3 sentences. The exhibition text should contain reference to any sources which have influenced the individual piece.
What font do museums use?
The majority of designed work uses the Museum’s official sans serif font, Akzidenz Grotesk. In contrast to Baskerville, it adds a contemporary and modern feel representative of the Museum’s current activities and profile in the world.
What makes a great museum label?
Try googling ‘longbow’ and you’d be hard pressed to find such deep insight, even after reading several hundred words online. Both these labels reveal something to the visitor, and they do so by reinstating some of the context that is lost when objects are placed in a museum.
How do you make an exhibition text?
Writing Exhibition Texts
- Title labels identify the name of the exhibition.
- Introductory or orientation labels set up the organization and tone of the exhibition…
- Section or group labels inform visitors of the rationale behind a subgrouping of objects, paintings, or animals.
What are the examples of exhibition?
The definition of an exhibition is a large public showing or display of art, products or athletic skills. An example of an exhibition is an artist showing his work for two nights at a gallery. An example of an exhibition is a group of gymnasts showing their skills to the public.
How do you label artwork?
Your label should include:
- Artist’s name.
- Nationality, birth year (Optional.
- Title of the artwork (in bold or italic), year created.
- Medium used to create (ex: crayon on paper)
- Brief description (This is where you can include any information about the artist, why they created the piece, how they created the piece, etc.)
Do Museums need to be PC about wall text?
Museum wall text, something 99.9% of the world literally doesn’t care about but gets art historians super fired up, has lately been a big debate in the art world. The rise of social justice movements means museums have to try way harder to be PC in the way they describe each piece.
Why choose rub-on transfers for museum wall text labels?
The high quality of rub-on transfers as museum wall text labels reflects the thoughtful and refined experience a fine arts institution needs to portray. In addition to text and descriptions for individual pieces, dry transfers wall labels can be used for other signage connected to the exhibition to maintain a unified look.
Are texts on signs in museums factual and boring?
In his opinion, texts on signs in museums are ‘factual’ and ‘boring’. That’s not the point that I want to make. Those little signs should be factual. I want to focus on the wall texts that introduce an exhibition. Not always, but often, those texts are long, far too long, and leave little room for interpretation.
Are museums using “mind control” on their walls?
Art critic Eric Gibson even called them “mind control.” To be fair, museums are taking a closer look at what they’re throwing up on their walls, giving wall text a much-needed makeover. The Guerilla Girls have a few pointers for your next piece of museum wall text…