The Ultimate Art Website Checklist
If you’re an artist about to create your first ever art website, or you’re ready to redesign and restructure your current art website so that it looks and feels more professional, THIS is the blog post you want to read and save for later.
In this post, you will find a clear checklist of all things to include in your website so you don’t leave anything important out.
We’ll also brief you on why each feature and page is necessary to add to your site, so you don’t feel like you are adding things for the sake of it.
We don’t want you to waste time scrolling - so let’s get straight to the all important checklist.
WHY INCLUDE THESE PAGES
HOME PAGE
This is one of the most important pages on your site.
WHY: Gives an immediate sense of what art you create and what you are about, directs visitors to key pages on your site (shop or gallery), and introduces yourself as an artist.
MUST INCLUDE: A call to action to explore the shop or gallery, a large, clear, sharp image of your artwork, and a bit of text about your art and yourself.
ABOUT PAGE
This is where your visitors can get to know you better and connect with you more.
WHY: To help visitors forge a connection with you, to give visitors a reason to invest in your art, and to teach visitors about your art and your process.
MUST INCLUDE: A picture of yourself, an explanation of your artwork and your inspiration, a bit about how your process works.
GALLERY AND COLLECTIONS PAGE
This page allows people to distinguish the different groups of artwork you’ve made.
WHY: So visitors can explore the artwork that interests them the most, so visitors can see your artistic journey and evolution, so visitors can explore your art more easily.
MUST INCLUDE: Collection titles, images for each collection of the best artwork, clear and sharp uniform images for each collection.
INDIVIDUAL COLLECTIONS PAGES
Stemming from the gallery or collections page, this is page should make it easy to scroll though all the artwork in each collection.
WHY: Visitors can effortlessly explore all the artwork in each collection.
MUST INCLUDE: Artwork titles, uniform images of each artwork, breadcrumb links to the other collections.
SHOP PAGE
So visitors can buy your incredible artworks.
WHY: So the space behind your sofa is freed up from finished paintings.
MUST INCLUDE: Clear sharp images of artwork, easy to read titles, breadcrumbs to previous pages.
SHOP ITEM PAGES
This is the page where a visitor sees all the details about a single artwork.
WHY: to give the buyer full confidence before purchasing, to communicate everything they need to know (size, medium, shipping), to create a smooth buying experience.
MUST INCLUDE: multiple images of the artwork (different angles/close-ups), title, dimensions, price, materials, purchase button, shipping/delivery details.
SHIPPING AND DELIVERY POLICY PAGES
This page outlines how, when, and where you ship your artwork.
WHY: To manage customer expectations, reduce buyer hesitation and avoid repetitive inquiries.
MUST INCLUDE: Shipping costs, estimated delivery times, regions you ship to, shipping partners used, packaging method.
ARTWORK CARE PAGE
A helpful page for collectors who want to preserve your art properly.
WHY: To show professionalism and care for your work, to reduce damage-related returns and to build trust with collectors.
MUST INCLUDE: Cleaning tips, display advice, framing/storage suggestions, materials-specific care notes.
PRIVACY POLICY PAGE
A legal requirement if you collect any visitor data (even emails).
WHY: To comply with privacy laws, to build trust with your audience and to clearly explain data usage.
MUST INCLUDE: What data you collect, how it’s stored and used, any third-party sharing details.
FAQs PAGE
A place to answer common questions before they’re even asked.
WHY: To save time answering repetitive inquiries and to guide the buyer journey.
MUST INCLUDE: Questions about shipping, returns, commissions, sizing, materials, and general buying info.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS PAGE
This outlines the legal framework for buying from your website and using content from your website.
WHY: To protect you legally, to clearly explain customer and site visitor obligations, and to ensure smoother conflict resolution.
MUST INCLUDE: Payment terms, shipping and return policies, copyright usage and liability limitations.
RETURNS AND REFUND POLICY PAGE
This page gives transparency about what happens if someone wants to return a piece.
WHY: To reduce purchase hesitation, protect you from misunderstandings and clarify what’s allowed.
MUST INCLUDE: Timeframe for returns, conditions for eligibility, refund method, non-returnable items.
FEATURES OR PRESS PAGE
Showcases where your art has been published or exhibited.
WHY: To build credibility, create social proof, and attract media or gallery attention.
MUST INCLUDE: Logos or screenshots of publications, dates, brief descriptions and links to external features if possible.
EXHIBITIONS PAGE (OR SECTION)
A chronological or visual overview of where your work has been shown.
WHY: To highlight your experience and career growth, to show legitimacy and to inform potential collectors or curators.
MUST INCLUDE: Exhibition titles, locations, dates, and optionally links or images from the events.
BLOG
A space to share thoughts, process, behind-the-scenes or announcements.
WHY: To build connection with your audience, improve SEO and keep your site feeling alive and active.
MUST INCLUDE: Well-titled posts, engaging images, readable text formatting, and relevant tags or categories.
CONTACT PAGE
Allows visitors to reach out for questions, opportunities or commissions.
WHY: To make it easy for people to connect, to open doors for future work and to show professionalism.
MUST INCLUDE: Contact form or email address, social links, response time expectations, optional map if you have a studio.
COMMISSIONS PAGE
A dedicated page for those interested in custom artwork.
WHY: To guide potential clients through the process, to reduce uncertainty and to set boundaries and expectations.
MUST INCLUDE: How commissions work, what info you need, pricing structure or starting rate, sample past commissions.
EVENTS OR UPCOMING NEWS PAGE
Keeps your audience updated on what's next.
WHY: To create engagement and anticipation, to drive attendance to shows and to show momentum in your career.
MUST INCLUDE: Event titles, locations, dates, RSVP or ticket info, and images if possible.
CV PAGE (OR SECTION)
A record of your professional art history, often useful for curators or galleries.
WHY: To establish your credibility, to help institutions vet you and to track your growth.
MUST INCLUDE: Education, exhibitions, residencies, publications, collections and other relevant achievements.
ARTIST STATEMENT PAGE (OR SECTION)
Explains your work from a conceptual or philosophical standpoint.
WHY: To give deeper context to your practice, to appeal to curators/critics, and to communicate the "why" behind your work.
MUST INCLUDE: A clear, concise description of your artistic vision, your influences, and the themes you explore.
TESTIMONIALS SECTIONS
A section with praise from previous art buyers.
WHY: So potential buyers see the value in your art and what it has done for previous owners.
MUST INCLUDE: 1-3 sentences as a review, the name of the owner
WHY INCLUDE THESE FEATURES
HERO SECTION WITH IMPORTANT CTA AND BUTTON
WHY: To direct visitors immediately to where you want them to go.
LATEST OR BEST SELLING WORK ON HOME PAGE
WHY: To keep visitors up to date with your recent work or showcase art that they are most likely to enjoy.
NEWSLETTER POP-UP
WHY: To increase your number of email newsletter sign-ups.
FOOTER WITH ALL PAGE LINKS
WHY: To make it easy for visitors to find what they are looking for on your website.
BRIEF ABOUT SUMMARY IN FOOTER
WHY: To provide a concise summary of who you are and what you do to anchor visitors to your artist identity.
NEWSLETTER SIGN-UP FORM IN FOOTER
WHY: To increase the number of newsletter sign-ups by making it easy for visitors to find.
DISCOUNT PROMOTION BANNER
WHY: To remind and incentivise visitors to sing up to your newsletter.
SOCIAL MEDIA ICONS WITH LINKS
WHY: To make it easy for visitors to head to your social media profiles.
SHOPPING CART ICON
WHY: To streamline the purchasing process for visitors.
LIGHTBOX VIEW FOR ARTWORK IMAGES IN GALLERY
WHY: To allow visitors to see your artwork in more detail.
IMAGE ZOOM ON ARTWORK IN SHOP ITEM PAGES
WHY: To allow visitors to see your artwork in more detail.
SEARCH BAR (WITH LOTS OF ARTWORKS)
WHY: To allow visitors to find the artwork they are looking for with greater ease.
INSTAGRAM FEED
WHY: To give visitors a preview of what you share on your social media and encourage them to follow..
RELATED ARTWORK SECTION
WHY: To make it easier for visitors to find other artworks they may also want to buy.
BACK TO TOP BUTTON (FOR LONG PAGES)
WHY: To make website navigation easier for visitors.
COOKIE CONSENT BANNER
WHY: To comply with privacy policy regulations.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE PRODUCT SUGGESTIONS
WHY: To make it easier for visitors to find other artworks they may also like and want to buy.
CONTACT FORM
WHY: To make it easier and more streamlined for visitors to get in touch with you.
PRODUCT REVIEWS
WHY: To provide social proof and boost potential buyers’ trust in you and the art you sell.
FRAMING INFORMATION
WHY: To make it easier for potential buyers to learn about how they can customise the artwork they sell and remove hesitation around making a purchase.
SHIPPING AND DELIVERY INFORMATION
WHY: To answer any questions about how delivery works so as to remove hesitation around making a purchase.
ARTWORK CARE INFORMATION
WHY: So potential buyers know how they can care for their new artwork.
MATERIALS INFORMATION
WHY: So visitors have a greater idea of what your artwork will look and feel like.
ARTWORK STORIES
WHY: So visitors can connect more deeply with the individual artwork.
Hopefully, with this checklist, you’ll be much more confident in crafting and building the perfect art website.
ACTION STEPS:
Make sure to save the checklist so you can easily refer back to what exactly you need, and once you’ve finished building your website you can double check you haven’t missed anything out.