The Power of a Portfolio

Developing a cohesive portfolio, or group of related works, can be challenging. The process can also reveal how your artworks are connected in ways you may not have seen before. The paintings shown here are by Cherish Williams, a 19-year-old student studying education at Brooklyn College in New York City. They’re all part of her portfolio of portraits, which “encapsulates memories of family and childhood,” Williams says.

Last year, Williams’s portfolio received a Gold Medal in the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. She was one of 16 high school seniors recognized with this award in 2023, and she received a $10,000 scholarship for her work.

Artists use their portfolios to share their work with galleries and potential collectors. And many employers in creative fields require artists to include a portfolio with job applications.

Portfolios are also important for student artists. Like most college applicants who are interested in studying art, Williams submitted her portfolio when she applied to Brooklyn College. Portfolios are also part of the application process for some internships, grants, and scholarships.

A portfolio features works that are visually or conceptually related to one another. They should present a “snapshot of the ideas you’re interested in, the work you’ve done, and where your work is going,” says Leah Triplett Harrington. She is a curator in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She explains that a portfolio can also include a statement about ideas you’d like to explore.

To curate her portfolio, Williams identified themes in her subject matter and process. “I wanted to stick with family,” she says. The artworks she selected all represent physical photos, like Polaroids and images of her family in photo albums. In some examples, Williams even documents the “wrinkles from the photo itself” to capture “time and the feeling of aging.” She thought these details added to the authenticity of her work.