Your Artistic Legacy: Creating a Lasting Impact Through Thoughtful Planning
How will your art and story be remembered? The power to shape your legacy is in your hands. Follow our comprehensive guide.
What Is an Artist's Legacy?
An artist's legacy is far more than just the artwork left behind—it's the complete story of who you were, what you believed in, and how your creative vision shaped the world around you.
As artist Charly Palmer beautifully puts it: "It's so that when someone looks at what's going on right now, 20 years from now, they can look at the art to get an idea about what was going on in the world. It's the thing that moves me."
Your legacy encompasses:
Your body of work and its evolution over time
The stories behind your art - your inspiration, process, and intent
Your impact on the art world and broader culture
The values and perspectives you championed through your work
Your contribution to art history and future generations of artists
Think of legacy as answering the fundamental question: "How do I want to be remembered?"
Why Artist Legacy Planning Matters More Than Ever
The Democratization of History
We are in a moment of historical democratization. We can now create and preserve our histories versus having the people or organizations in positions of power decide what is worth remembering. This shift means artists have unprecedented control over how their stories are told.
The Cautionary Tales
History is littered with examples of what happens when artists don't plan:
Pablo Picasso died without a will, leading to decades of legal battles over his estate
Mark Rothko's death resulted in his friends and family becoming entangled in years-long disputes over his works
Vivian Maier, the street photographer, died with no estate plan, leading to ongoing legal battles over who has rights to distribute her work
''It opened artists' eyes to the concept that this was a business, not just an intellectual world,'' his daughter Kate Rothko told the New York Times of the very public legal battle.
The Risks of Doing Nothing
I knew that the worst thing an artist or collector can do is nothing: to leave no plans for the future of their art. By failing to plan, they rob themselves of the opportunity to champion their vision, their life, and their legacy.
Without proper planning:
Your work may be misrepresented or misunderstood
Family members (or others) after the death of an artist who worked for years in the craft field and who had important collections of tools and equipment... find themselves confronted with the daunting task of making decisions that reflect their loved one's life, career, and reputation.
Valuable pieces may be lost, damaged, or sold without proper documentation
Your artistic vision gets replaced by others' interpretations
Important archival materials may be discarded as clutter
Studio of Nancy Kay Turner
The Five Pillars of Artist Legacy Planning
1. Document Everything: Your Archive as Your Voice
Why Documentation Matters
"Vision, technique, process—they are all essential to understanding an artist's lifetime and legacy. Authentic artistic legacy is reflected in and through an artist's actions, words and thought. Together, these provide the public with a close sense of the artists' peculiarities of style, technique, and influences."
What to Document:
Essential Information for Each Artwork:
Title of the artwork
The date it was created
The medium/mediums used
Dimensions of the artwork
The price of the artwork
Any exhibitions that it was accepted into
Any galleries in which the artwork showed
If the artwork was sold and who it sold to
The high-resolution image of the artwork
Any detail images of the artwork
Vision, technique, process
Story behind the work
Beyond Individual Pieces:
Biographies and artist statements
Resumes and CVs
Proposals
Press materials + news articles
Process photos
Sketchbooks
Exhibition documentation
Installation shots
Contracts
Proposals
Awards and affiliation groups
Anything else that show who you are as an artist.
Pro Tip: Artists can provide a more authentic sense of who they are as creative makers and human beings. They can show how they got where they are by documenting their processes and results and digitizing it all. To ensure that the artist's life and work are remembered. If you are not unsure, simply jot down any information in a private note and return to the piece once you are able to see a theme or gain better insight into your work.
2. Tell Your Story: The Power of Narrative
Why Your Story Matters
A lot of emotion is bound up in art legacy planning. You buy a work of art because you love it, after all—it speaks to you and it's part of your identity. The same is true for the art you create.
Stories demand respect in a way that arguments never can. You can't argue with someone's experience. You may not like what you hear but you can't disagree with someone's personal truth.
How to Capture Your Narrative:
Record artist talks and interviews about your work
Document your creative process through video
Write about your artistic journey and evolution
Capture audio files detailing your thought processes
Create a personal mission statement about your art
Conduct oral histories - capture gaps in the written record and preserve firsthand recollections in your own voice
Document not just what you create, but how you create and why
The Power of Oral History
Museums and foundations have long recognized oral history as a fundamental way to capture gaps in the written record, preserve the firsthand recollections of the individual in his or her own voice, and enrich the work of scholars and curators. As artist Zsudayka Nzinga explains: "Making sure that these moments are captured and gathered in one place where they can be accessed, seen, collected and shown, ensures that my story is told—and it is told by me."
The Digital Advantage: Digital media can be faithful to the creative journey and used as a tool for artists to tell their own story. For example, you can capture an audio file that details an ideation conversation that takes place. Or, you can create a video of yourself working in a particular way that is unique to your medium or work.
3. Organize for Accessibility: Creating Systems That Last
Building Your Archive Structure
Physical Organization:
Categorize works by series, date, or medium
Create proper storage and preservation protocols
Establish clear labeling systems
Document the location of all pieces
Digital Systems: Modern artists have access to sophisticated tools that make organization easier than ever. Artwork Archive began in 2010 as one of the first cloud-based art inventory systems. Provides artists with powerful tools to manage their artwork & grow a career Platforms like this allow you to:
Create comprehensive digital inventories
Generate professional reports and certificates
Track provenance and exhibition history
Share work privately with galleries and collectors
Build public profiles to showcase your portfolio
Key Features to Look For:
High-resolution image storage
Detailed metadata tracking
Professional report generation
Contact and location management
Exhibition and sales tracking
4. Plan for the Future: Legal and Financial Considerations
Estate Planning Essentials
If you really believe in your work then estate planning is an absolutely essential step to take to ensure that you and your loved ones are prepared to take the steps to protect and preserve life's work and the values that it embodies.
Key Steps:
Create a comprehensive will
Choose an executor who understands your artistic vision
Consider establishing a trust or foundation
Plan for copyright and intellectual property management
Address tax implications for your heirs
Document your wishes for how work should be exhibited and sold
Professional Guidance: Work with attorneys who specialize in artist estates, as art presents unique legal challenges around valuation, copyright, and cultural heritage.
5. Build Your Community: Creating a Support Network
The Importance of Relationships
You're part of a community: Help and be helped. Other people have different experiences and information than you do, so use your community. It's much harder when you're operating on an island. At the heart of successful legacy planning is understanding that the work of legacy planning cannot be done alone—that it is best achieved through a collaborative process among a team of individuals committed to a shared understanding of the specific vision, need, and aspirations of each artist.
Building Your Legacy Team:
Legacy planning consultants who can advise on estate planning and help identify potential repositories for artworks, records, and ephemera
Dealers and gallerists who understand your market
Curators who can champion your work and research solo exhibitions
Collectors who believe in your vision
Family members who can provide personal perspective
Professional advisors (lawyers, accountants, archivists)
Other artists for peer support and resource sharing
Oral historians who can help document your story and artistic process
Professional Legacy Services
Organizations like "What the artist says" provide specialized consultancy services that advise artists and their advocates on estate and legacy planning. These services can help with:
Identifying potential repositories for artworks, records, ephemera, and other materials
Researching, curating, and finding venues for solo exhibitions
Producing didactics, press releases, and reading lists
Writing, editing, or producing publications for artists
Creating, collecting and publishing oral histories for contemporary artists
Maintaining Professional Relationships: Use systems to track interactions with galleries, collectors, and other professionals. Document sales, commissions, and exhibition opportunities to build strong working relationships over time.
Studio of neon artists Linda Sue Price and Michael Flechtner
Taking Action: Your Legacy Planning Roadmap
Start Now, Regardless of Career Stage
Emerging Artists: You may wish to apply for a grant, fellowship, and/or commission and need to present documentation of prior projects and work. You may be asked to give an artist's talk.
Mid-Career Artists: You may have the opportunity to create a book or catalogue of your work that surveys all or some aspect of your career. You may regularly get requests for your images to be used by other people, reproductions in a text book, art historical text, student papers or for educational purposes and lectures.
Established Artists: A curator may visit your studio to plan a retrospective of your work. An art historian may ask for documentation of the work that was in a seminal art show many years ago. You may begin to consider what might happen to your work when you are no longer around.
The Technology Advantage
Modern artists have unprecedented tools for legacy planning. By documenting your art now you are preparing for a future where you and other artists will be visible and researchable in ways that you never were before.
Start Small, Think Big
All legacy planners ask is that you do a little planning. Begin with:
This week: Photograph three recent works with proper documentation
This month: Set up a basic organizational system
This quarter: Create a comprehensive inventory of your current work
This year: Develop a formal legacy plan with professional guidance
Your Legacy Is Your Gift to the Future
Remember Vincent van Gogh's story: Even Vincent van Gogh's fame is largely dependent on the efforts of his sister-in-law Johanna van Gogh-Bonger to promote his work after his death. Quality alone does not guarantee a legacy.
Your artistic legacy is too important to leave to chance. By taking control of your documentation, storytelling, and planning now, you ensure that your voice remains strong and your vision stays intact for generations to come.
Your body of work tells future generations about our values, aesthetics, and culture—it is important to preserve it.
The question isn't whether you'll leave a legacy—it's whether you'll have a say in shaping it.
Start today. Your future self, your family, and the art world will thank you.
Artist Legacy Planning Checklist
Use this actionable checklist to begin your legacy planning journey. Check off each item as you complete it, and revisit regularly to update and expand your efforts.
📋 Immediate Actions (This Week)
[ ] Photograph 3-5 recent works with proper lighting and neutral backgrounds
[ ] Create a simple spreadsheet or digital folder to begin organizing artwork information
[ ] Write down basic information for each piece: title, date, medium, dimensions, price
[ ] Back up all digital files to cloud storage
[ ] Take "before" photos of your current studio/workspace organization
📸 Documentation Foundations (This Month)
[ ] Photograph your entire current body of work
[ ] Create high-resolution detail shots of significant pieces
[ ] Document your tools, studio setup, and creative process
[ ] Write brief descriptions of 5-10 key works including inspiration and technique
[ ] Record a 5-minute audio memo about your artistic goals and vision
[ ] Scan important sketches, preparatory materials, or artist statements
🗂️ Organization & Systems (Next 3 Months)
[ ] Choose and set up a comprehensive digital archive system (like Artwork Archive)
[ ] Create standardized naming conventions for all digital files
[ ] Input complete information for all artworks including:
[ ] Titles and creation dates
[ ] Materials and dimensions
[ ] Current location and status (available, sold, exhibited)
[ ] Price history and current pricing
[ ] Exhibition history
[ ] High-resolution images
[ ] Organize physical artwork storage with proper labeling
[ ] Create backup systems for all digital information
📖 Storytelling & Context (Next 6 Months)
[ ] Write an artist statement that captures your current vision
[ ] Document the stories behind significant works
[ ] Record video of yourself discussing your artistic process
[ ] Conduct or arrange for an oral history interview about your journey
[ ] Gather and organize press coverage, reviews, and artist talks
[ ] Create a timeline of your artistic development and major milestones
[ ] Document influences, inspirations, and artistic relationships
📑 Professional Documentation (Next 6 Months)
[ ] Create a comprehensive CV/resume
[ ] Compile exhibition history with dates, venues, and catalog information
[ ] Document all sales with buyer information and transaction details
[ ] Organize contracts, commission agreements, and legal documents
[ ] Create professional bio in multiple lengths (50, 100, 200+ words)
[ ] Gather contact information for galleries, collectors, curators, and other professionals
[ ] Document awards, grants, and professional recognition
🏛️ Legal & Financial Planning (Year 1)
[ ] Research estate planning attorneys with art expertise
[ ] Schedule consultation with estate planning professional
[ ] Create or update your will with specific provisions for artwork
[ ] Consider establishing a trust or foundation if appropriate
[ ] Review and update insurance coverage for artwork
[ ] Document intellectual property and copyright preferences
[ ] Choose an executor who understands your artistic vision
[ ] Create written instructions for artwork care and handling
🤝 Community & Professional Relationships (Ongoing)
[ ] Identify and connect with other artists for mutual support
[ ] Research potential repositories for your work (museums, schools, archives)
[ ] Build relationships with curators and gallerists who champion your work
[ ] Connect with collectors who appreciate and preserve art
[ ] Consider joining or creating artist legacy planning groups
[ ] Research grants and opportunities for legacy documentation
[ ] Explore professional legacy planning services if needed
🔄 Regular Maintenance (Quarterly)
[ ] Update artwork documentation for new pieces
[ ] Review and update pricing based on sales and market changes
[ ] Add new exhibition opportunities and professional relationships
[ ] Back up all digital files and verify system functionality
[ ] Review and update artist statements or biographical information
[ ] Assess storage and preservation conditions
[ ] Schedule regular check-ins with your legacy planning team
🎯 Advanced Legacy Building (Year 2+)
[ ] Consider creating a catalog raisonné or comprehensive monograph
[ ] Explore opportunities for museum or institutional gifts
[ ] Develop educational materials about your work and process
[ ] Consider establishing an artist endowed foundation
[ ] Create scholarly resources for future researchers
[ ] Document your artistic community and collaborative relationships
[ ] Plan for posthumous exhibition and publication opportunities
💡 Reflection Questions
Use these questions to guide your legacy planning decisions:
[ ] How do I want to be remembered as an artist?
[ ] What aspects of my work and process are most important to preserve?
[ ] Who would be the best stewards of my artistic legacy?
[ ] What institutions or communities align with my artistic values?
[ ] How can my work continue to serve my artistic and social goals after I'm gone?
Remember: Legacy planning is not a one-time task but an ongoing process. Start with what feels manageable and build from there. The most important step is to begin.
Resources for Getting Started
Immediate Actions:
Begin photographing your work with proper documentation
Research digital archive platforms that fit your needs
Connect with other artists about their legacy planning experiences
Consult with professionals who specialize in artist estates
Consider conducting an oral history to capture your artistic journey and process
Document not just what you create, but why and how you create it
Professional Support:
Estate planning attorneys with art expertise
Certified public accountants familiar with artist finances
Art conservators for preservation guidance
Digital archivists for technical documentation support
Legacy planning consultants who specialize in artist estate and legacy planning
Oral history professionals to help capture and preserve your story
Art advisors experienced in collections management and institutional placement
Remember: Our art is not just about the present—it's about leaving a mark that lasts beyond our time. By documenting and organizing our work, we preserve our artistic legacy, inspire others, and contribute to the collective creativity of the world.
Your legacy starts with the choices you make today.
Resources
Specialized Artist Legacy Consultancies
What the artist says
Website:
https://www.whattheartistsays.com/
Services: Estate and legacy planning consultancy, identifying repositories for artworks/records/ephemera, curating solo exhibitions, producing publications, creating oral histories for contemporary artists
Amie Potsic Art Advisory
Website: https://www.amiepotsicartadvisory.com/legacy-artists
Services: Legacy planning, estate planning, art advising through documentation, archiving, exhibition, and collections management services
Assemblage
Website:
https://assemblage.art/
Services: Helps artists and collectors strategically envision, plan, and cement their legacy with a people-centric approach focused on vision and intent
Art Legacy Planning
Website:
http://art-legacy.com/
Services: Provides resources and publications related to legacy planning and artists' estate management
Technology Platforms
Artwork Archive
Website:
https://www.artworkarchive.com/
Services: Cloud-based art inventory system for managing artwork, tracking provenance, generating professional reports, creating digital archives
Foundations and Non-Profits
Joan Mitchell Foundation
Creating a Living Legacy (CALL) program
Provides workbooks, resources, and educational materials for artist legacy planning
Artists' Legacy Foundation
Multi-artist-endowed foundation that stewards legacies of deceased artists and supports living artists through grants and educational programs
CERF+ (Craft Emergency Relief Fund)
Created "Crafting Your Legacy" workbook
Provides education programs and resources for artists' estate planning
Artist Trust
Works to expand awareness and management of archiving and documenting artwork
Provides legacy planning and archiving information for visual artists
Legal and Financial Services
Center for Art Law
Offers artist legacy and estate planning educational programs
Provides legal resources and expertise
Arte Generali
Provides collection and legacy planning guidance
Focuses on art collection management and preservation
Estate Management Specialists
Individual Estate Directors (examples from research):
Tracy Bartley - R.B. Kitaj Estate Director
Yayoi Shionoiri - Executive Director, Estate of Chris Burden and Studio of Nancy Rubins
Julia Schwartz - Artists' Legacy Foundation
Museum Programs
Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)
Oral History Program for preserving artist stories
Archives services for documentation
Robert Rauschenberg Foundation
Oral History Project in collaboration with Columbia Center for Oral History Research
Additional Resources
Bay Area Women Artists' Legacy Project (BAWALP)
Collective focused on preserving legacies of women artists
Catalogue Raisonné Scholars Association (CRSA)
Serves scholars engaged in catalogue raisonné process
International Catalogue Raisonné Association (ICRA)
Provides resources for comprehensive artwork documentation
These organizations offer services ranging from basic documentation tools to comprehensive legacy planning, estate management, and institutional placement. The choice depends on the artist's career stage, budget, and specific needs.
Sources
Gotthardt, Alexxa. "Financial Advice for Artists from Four Experts." Artsy, September 8, 2017.
"Creating an Artistic Legacy." Artwork Archive presentation, September 13, 2023.
Laurin, evlyne. "Preserve Your Vision: The Case for Legacy Planning in Art." .ART, February 6, 2025.
"Artist Legacy and Estate Planning Capsule." Center for Art Law, May 30, 2023.
"Artistic Legacy: How Will Your Art and Life Be Remembered?" Artwork Archive, February 3, 2023.
Islam, Ferdousi. "Estate Planning for Your Art: A Guide." Morgan Stanley, 2024.
Palmer, Liz. "How to ensure your legacy - the importance of estate planning for artists." Howard Kennedy, 2024.
"A Visual Artist's Guide to Estate Planning and Preserving Your Legacy After Death." Format Magazine, July 10, 2023.
"From Clutter to Cataloged: How to Use Estate Planning to Preserve the Art Legacy of a Loved One." Artwork Archive, 2024.
"Creating a Living Legacy #1: An Introduction to Career Documentation." Artist Trust, December 12, 2024.
Low, Megan. "An Artist's Legacy: How do you want to be remembered?" Joan Mitchell Foundation, January 10, 2023.
Gomez, Sergio. "The Artistic Journey: Documenting and Organizing Your Creative Legacy." The Artist Next Level.
"The Power of Storytelling in Multigenerational Art Collecting." SURFACE, April 25, 2023.
"Why It's More Important Than Ever to Document Your Artwork." Artwork Archive.
O'Neal, Wendi. "The History and Importance of Oral Documentation and Storytelling." ARTS Blog, May 15, 2019.
Peterson, Lani. "The Science Behind The Art Of Storytelling." Harvard Business Publishing, March 1, 2024.
Studio of Jane Baumann