Month 07
How to make artwork labels: comprehensive guide 2026
In 30 seconds
A professional label contains 6 pieces of info in a standardized order: artist name, artwork title (italics), year, medium and support, dimensions (inches and cm), price (context-dependent). Standard format: 10x8 cm, sans-serif typography like Helvetica 10-12 pt, 200-250g matte paper. Label positioned to the right of the artwork at 1.40m high. A poorly designed label discredits a strong artwork.
Why the label deserves your attention
I saw an artist spend 200 hours painting 15 works and 20 minutes printing her labels on printer paper with a generic font. Her exceptional works looked amateur because of the labels. A visitor even asked 'Is this serious?'. The label signals your pro level in 3 seconds.
Standard 6-line content
Mandatory order:
- ARTIST FIRST AND LAST NAME
- Artwork title, year
- Medium, support
- Dimensions (h by w) in inches and cm
- Numbering if limited edition
- Price or status (optional)
Example: DORIAN VERDIER Effacement n°4, 2025 Acrylic and collage on canvas 24 by 36 in (61 by 91 cm) 3/5 2,400 $ CAD
Typographic rules
Font: Helvetica, Univers, Futura (neutral sans-serif). Fonts to ban: Comic Sans, Times New Roman, decorative fonts. Size: artist name 14-16 pt uppercase, title 11-12 pt italics, details 10-11 pt, price 11-12 pt bold. Spacing: line height 1.4-1.6, inner margins 5-8 mm.
Physical format
Dimensions: commercial gallery 10x8 cm, museum 12x10 cm, dense exhibition 8x6 cm. Paper: 200-250g matte, off-white or cream (never clinical pure white). Print: pro laser or inkjet. Cost at Quebec printer: $1-$3 per label.
Fixing: Sticky Tack putty (temporary), double-sided tape (weeks), velcro (precise positioning). Never pushpins or nails.
Variations by context
- Commercial gallery: include price systematically, to the right of artwork at 1.40m.
- Museum or art center: generally no price. Include short 50-80 word description optionally.
- Group exhibition: artist name more visible in large font.
- Art fair: compact 8x6 cm format, systematic price, QR code to online sheet.
The 5 mistakes that discredit
- Mistake 1, home printing. Glare, visibly poor quality, immediate amateur perception.
- Mistake 2, decorative font. Sabotages any artwork.
- Mistake 3, forgetting dimensions in inches AND cm. Critical for international buyers.
- Mistake 4, crooked label. Level every label.
- Mistake 5, handwritten price pasted at the last minute. Needs to be on the original printed label, no added sticker.
FAQ
French or bilingual label?
In Quebec, French is mandatory. Bilingual recommended for international Montreal.
QR code on the label?
Optional. Useful for 15+ works exhibitions where visitors want more info. Links to detailed site sheet.
How many extra labels?
10-15% extras for damage, repositioning, special requests on D-day.