What to Include in an IB Visual Arts Portfolio

6. Mixed Media and Variety

Examiners expect experimentation across media. Even if you specialize, show variety in scale, style, or approach.

7. Cultural and Contextual Connections

Research artists from different cultures and traditions.

• Link their approaches to your own practice.
• Show global awareness.

How to Structure Your Portfolio

• Organize by theme: Group works that explore similar ideas.
• Organize by media: Dedicate sections to painting, photography, sculpture, etc.
• Organize chronologically: Show growth and evolution over time.

Any structure is acceptable as long as it’s clear and easy for examiners to follow.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Including only final polished works instead of experiments.
• Writing vague annotations with no reflection.
• Showing too little variety in media or approaches.
• Forgetting to connect research and experiments to your theme.
• Overloading with text and not enough visuals.

FAQs on IB Visual Arts Portfolios

Q1: How many screens should the portfolio include?

• SL: 9–18 screens.
• HL: 13–25 screens.

Q2: Can I include unfinished experiments?
Yes — as long as you reflect on what you learned.

Q3: Do all pages need written annotations?
Not every page, but consistent reflection is important.

Q4: Should I include digital work?
Yes — digital work is encouraged and can be combined with traditional media.

Q5: Do I need to show a link between the portfolio and exhibition?
Yes — your portfolio should demonstrate how experiments influenced your final works.

Conclusion

An IB Visual Arts portfolio should include experiments, artist research, process documentation, reflections, thematic exploration, and cultural connections. By balancing visuals and text, showing variety, and reflecting honestly, you’ll build a portfolio that demonstrates growth, creativity, and critical thinking — exactly what examiners want to see.