LinkedIn is the platform many artists ignore because “it’s for business people”. In many cases, they’re right. But there are artist profiles for whom LinkedIn is the most effective professional platform, far above Instagram. The key is knowing whether your work fits LinkedIn’s context.
When LinkedIn makes a lot of sense for an artist
Graphic designers, illustrators, and commercial photographers: your client is a company, an agency, or a marketing department. LinkedIn is exactly where that client is. An updated portfolio on LinkedIn reaches the people who commission the work.
Artists who teach in higher education or professional training: LinkedIn is the network for higher education professionals. Institutions looking for lecturers in artistic subjects search LinkedIn.
Cultural managers, producers, and curators: your work is intersectional — between the cultural sector and the professional world. LinkedIn is where those two spheres connect.
Session musicians and composers for audiovisual: film, advertising, and video game production directors and music supervisors search LinkedIn for profiles.
Artists who give talks or lectures: universities, companies, and conferences look for speakers on LinkedIn.
When LinkedIn does NOT make sense
If your art is aimed at the general public (concert music, gallery painting, stage dance), LinkedIn is not where you’ll find your followers or your audience. Using it like Instagram but in professional format is a waste of time.
How to optimise your profile
Professional headline: not “Artist” or “Musician”. Be specific: “Composer for film and advertising” or “Editorial and press illustrator”. The headline is what appears in search results.
About section: explain who you are (first person), who you’re addressing (ideal clients or collaborators), and what your speciality or differentiation is. End with a clear call to action: “If you’re looking for X, get in touch.”
Featured section: LinkedIn lets you pin pieces to your profile (PDFs, links, images). Use it to showcase your EPK, your most representative work, or a standout project.
Custom URL: change the default URL (with numbers) to linkedin.com/in/your-name. It’s professional and you can use it on your CV and EPK.
Content for artists on LinkedIn
LinkedIn rewards content that generates professional conversation. Formats that work:
Reflections on the creative process in a professional context. “Three things I’ve learned making book covers” or “Why editorial illustration has changed in ten years.” This isn’t an Instagram post — it’s a reflection that adds value to other professionals.
Project updates with professional context. “I just finished the illustration for X’s new single” is weaker than “I received a complicated brief and here’s what I decided and why.”
Resource recommendations for the sector. Artists who help other artists (or clients) understand the industry build authority.
Never: holiday photos, purely personal content, political opinions (can damage professional perception).
Multilingual profiles
LinkedIn is multilingual by design — you can have a profile in multiple languages. Create your profile in English and in your native language (and in the local language of your main market if different). Your English profile opens international doors. Publishing in your own language communicates origin and rootedness, which for many clients is a value in itself. Artists from Wales, the Basque Country, Catalonia, or Brittany who work in their language on LinkedIn signal a distinctive cultural identity — a differentiator, not a limitation.
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Ressona helps artists build professional digital presence. Get in touch.