How to Cite Artwork in APA Format

Citing artwork in APA format requires the artist’s name, year of creation, title of the work, medium, museum or gallery name, location, and URL (if viewed online). This applies to paintings, sculptures, installations, and other visual art.

Basic Artwork Citation Format

The standard APA 7th edition format for an artwork citation is:

Reference list entry:

Artist, A. A. (Year). Title of artwork [Medium]. Museum or Gallery Name, Location. https://www.example.com/artwork

Parenthetical in-text citation: (Artist, Year)

Narrative in-text citation: Artist (Year)

In-Text Citation Examples

When you reference artwork within your paper, you have two options:

• Parenthetical: The painting exemplifies the Impressionist movement (Monet, 1872).
• Narrative: Monet (1872) exemplified the Impressionist movement with this work.

Common Variations

Painting in a Museum

Vermeer, J. (1665). Girl with a pearl earring [Oil on canvas]. Mauritshuis, The Hague, Netherlands.

Sculpture

Rodin, A. (1904). The thinker [Bronze sculpture]. Musée Rodin, Paris, France.

Artwork Viewed Online

If you viewed the artwork through a museum’s online collection or a digital archive, include the URL.

Kahlo, F. (1939). The two Fridas [Oil on canvas]. Museo de Arte Moderno, Mexico City, Mexico. https://www.museodeartemoderno.com/collection/example

Tips for Citing Artwork

• Include the medium in square brackets (e.g., [Oil on canvas], [Bronze sculpture], [Mixed media]).
• Italicize the title of the artwork in the reference entry.
• Include the museum and location where the artwork is housed.
• Add the URL only if you accessed the artwork online.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I cite artwork from a private collection? Use “Private collection” in place of the museum name. Omit the location if it is unknown.

What if the date of the artwork is unknown? Use (n.d.) in place of the year. If an approximate date is known, use (ca. 1500) for “circa.”

How do I cite a reproduction of artwork in a book? Cite the book where you found the reproduction. Mention the artwork and artist in the text of your paper but cite the book as your source.