Free Notion Art Catalog Template: Organize Your Artwork Effortlessly
Table of Contents
Understanding Art Catalogs and Art Management Tools
Art Catalog Template & Art Catalog Design
Art Management Tool & Art Management Software
What’s Inside the Template?
Access Template & Views
How to Setup Gallery View Settings
Why I Chose Notion Over Other Tools
Tailor Your Catalog for Different Audiences
How to Duplicate Your Free Template
How Notion Benefits Your Art Management
Art Organization Tips
User Guide
Quick Start Guide
Recommended Fields
Best Practices
Technical Requirements
Get Future Feature Updates
Are you an artist or collector looking for a simple way to keep track of your artwork inventory? Whether you’re managing pieces for exhibitions, tracking sales, or simply curating your portfolio, having an organized system is key. That’s why I’m excited to offer you a free Notion Art Catalog Template designed specifically to help you manage your art with ease!
Understanding Art Catalogs and Art Management Tools
An art catalog is essentially a comprehensive record of an artist’s work or a collection’s inventory. Traditionally, art catalogs have been published in print form, often as a beautifully designed booklet that includes images, descriptions, and details about each artwork. However, as technology advances, many artists are now exploring digital formats for their art catalogs.
Art Catalog Template & Art Catalog Design
Using a digital art catalog template offers a modern approach to organizing your creative portfolio. With a well-crafted template, you can create a customized art catalog design that reflects your unique aesthetic. This not only saves time but also gives you the flexibility to update and reorganize your catalog as your work evolves. Whether you’re planning to create a printable art catalog PDF or maintain a dynamic online portfolio, starting with a customizable template lets you experiment with different layouts, color schemes, and organizational methods without the constraints of traditional print media.
Art Management Tool & Art Management Software
Beyond the look and feel of your catalog, the functionality matters too. Many artists and collectors are now using dedicated art management tools to handle everything from inventory tracking to exhibition planning. These tools and art management software solutions offer features like filtering, tagging, and real-time updates that a static PDF can’t match. Although there are many specialized art management software options available on the market, they often come with a subscription fee or a steeper learning curve. This is where flexible platforms like Notion stand out—they provide a free, easy-to-customize solution that serves as an excellent minimum viable product for your art catalog needs.
By using a digital approach, you can seamlessly convert your art catalog into a living document that grows and adapts with your career. Whether you’re sharing your portfolio with galleries, curating a list of artworks for a specific exhibition, or simply keeping an organized record for yourself, the combination of a well-designed art catalog template and a robust art management tool can be the perfect solution.
What’s Inside the Template?
This Notion template is crafted to be both visually appealing and highly functional.
With fields for:
Artwork Title
Image (for high-quality photos of your work)
Dimensions & Medium
Price & Status (Available/Sold)
Year and Exhibit Details
Notes for any extra information
but completely customizable as you wish. For example, if you artwork doesn’t fit into my size categorization you can delete them, if you want to work on it later, you can hide some fields. .
When you edit, you might want to use Taable View to enter the information, and when you share with your audience you can choose Gallery View. It’s a turnkey solution for anyone looking to streamline their art management without any fuss.
Table View
How to setup Gallery View Settings
My preferred setting is
Card preview - Image 1
Card size - Large
Fit image - Toggle On
You can customize based on who you are sharing with and what information they might care to view in the catalog.
Why I Chose Notion Over Other Tools
When starting out, you often don’t know exactly what you’ll need from an art management system. Third-party art management platforms—both free and paid—can be tempting, but here are a few reasons why I opted for Notion as my MVP (Minimum Viable Product):
Time & Flexibility:
Many third-party tools (like Artwork Archive, Art Galleria, or Collector Systems) offer free trials or paid plans, but the free trial periods are often too short to truly test their capabilities. It takes significant time to set up and update your catalog on these platforms, and you might find that they don’t meet your evolving needs after a few months.Cost-Effective & Easy to Start:
Notion is completely free to try out, which makes it perfect for kick-starting your art catalog without any financial risk. This free template is designed to include only the minimum information needed for efficient art management. You can always expand by adding art descriptions, multiple images, links, or different statuses later on.Versatility & Portability:
Unlike many dedicated art management tools that limit you to a fixed set of functions, Notion offers versatility. Once you’ve used this catalog for a while, you’ll have a better idea of exactly what you need. If you decide to upgrade to a more professional setup later—perhaps even adding a paid domain—Notion’s paid plans support that. And if you ever want to move your data elsewhere, you can easily export it as CSV and import it into another platform.Quick & Consistent Aesthetic:
To generate a consistent look for this catalog, I used Smartist. (I am a paid user, but you can use the basic background option to achieve a similar look, though the resolution may not be as high.) This was the easiest method for me. Of course, you can also use Photoshop, Illustrator, or Canva (which is free) to produce images as needed. I found that horizontal images work best for this template without cutting off any part of the artwork. Before generating multiple images, test by uploading one to ensure it displays as expected.
Tailor Your Catalog for Different Audiences
One of the key advantages of using Notion for your art catalog is its flexibility. As your art practice grows, you might need different versions of your catalog depending on your audience. For instance:
Selective Sharing: You might want to pick and choose which artworks to show to certain galleries.
Exhibition Preparation: You may need to pull out a specific list of artworks for a particular exhibition.
Personalized Portfolios: You can duplicate your original catalog and customize each version without altering your primary record.
Notion makes it simple to keep your originals intact while creating tailored versions for different purposes. With its shareable, mobile-responsive links, you can easily send the right catalog to the right person—ensuring they can view it on their laptop or mobile device. This flexibility helps you stay organized about who receives which version of your portfolio.
How to Duplicate Your Free Template
Getting started is simple. Follow these three easy steps:
Click the Link Below:
Access the Free Notion Art Catalog TemplateDuplicate the Template:
Once the template loads in Notion, click the “Duplicate” button at the top-right corner of the page. This will add the template to your own Notion workspace.Customize & Organize:
Now that you have your copy, feel free to personalize it. Add new fields, update your artwork details, and let your creativity flow as you manage your collection.
How Notion Benefits Your Art Management
Notion is a powerful yet accessible tool that lets you create custom databases without any coding. Here’s why it works so well for managing art:
Customizable Layouts: Choose how you view your artwork—whether as a visual gallery or a detailed list.
Easy Organization: With simple drag-and-drop functionality and built-in filtering, you can quickly locate any piece in your catalog.
All-in-One Workspace: Beyond art management, you can integrate other creative projects, journaling, and planning—all in one platform.
Art Organization Tips
Not a must but, while the free template is designed to be a complete solution, here are a few extra tips to help you get the most out of your art catalog:
Set a Monthly Review: Schedule time each month to update your catalog—add new artworks, update sales statuses, or adjust pricing.
Keep High-Quality Images: Use natural light and a neutral background when photographing your artwork to ensure consistency in your catalog.
Experiment with Views: Switch between Gallery and Table views to find which layout best helps you manage your collection. Make sure your image is fit, if notion doesn’t allow your image to fit in, workaround to find the right sizing for your image before you upload.
Keep the Original: While you want to create many versions, make sure you have the original you don’t mess with.
User Guide
Welcome to the Art Catalog Template! Here’s how to make the most of this catalog:
Quick Start Guide
Customize the Database Views: Organize your artwork by medium, date, or series.
Add New Entries: Simply click the + button in the database view to add a new artwork entry.
Consistent Naming Conventions: Use consistent names for your artwork entries to keep everything organized.
Recommended Fields
For each artwork entry, consider including:
Title and Date of Creation
Medium and Dimensions
Exhibition History
Price (if applicable)
Artwork Status (Available/Sold/On Exhibition)
Best Practices
Regular Updates: Regularly update artwork status and availability.
High-Quality Images: Include high-quality images with consistent dimensions.
Provenance Records: Maintain detailed records of the artwork’s history.
Restoration Documentation: Document any restoration or conservation work.
Technical Requirements
For optimal viewing and management:
Image Resolution: Recommended minimum of 300 DPI.
Supported File Formats: JPG, PNG, TIFF.
Maximum File Size: Up to 5MB per image.
For technical support or template customization, please refer to the contact information provided on my website.
Get Future Feature Updates—Subscribe Now!
The free template is a static resource designed to give you immediate value. If you’d like to be notified when I roll out new features, enhancements, or additional art organization tips, subscribe to my email list. As a subscriber, you'll receive exclusive updates and insider tips directly to your inbox—ensuring you always stay ahead in organizing your creative journey.
Subscribe and join our community of artists who are taking control of their art catalog!
FAQ
What is a catalog in art?
A catalog in art is a comprehensive record or inventory of artworks, detailing information such as titles, mediums, dimensions, dates of creation, and exhibition histories. It serves as an essential tool for artists, collectors, and galleries to document and organize art collections.
How do I make an art catalog?
Creating an art catalog involves gathering detailed information for each artwork—including high-quality images, titles, creation dates, mediums, and exhibition records. Digital tools like Notion allow you to build a customizable database that is easy to update, reorganize, and share with potential buyers or galleries.
What is an artist's catalog called?
An artist's catalog is often referred to as a "catalog raisonné." This is a comprehensive, annotated listing of all known artworks by an artist, serving as an authoritative reference for collectors, galleries, and art historians. In more casual terms, it might also be called an art portfolio or inventory.
Is there an art database?
Yes, there are many art databases available. These range from commercial platforms such as Artwork Archive, Art Galleria, and Collector Systems, to more flexible, DIY solutions like Notion. Each offers a way to manage art inventory, track exhibitions, and maintain detailed records—although many paid tools have limited free trials that may not fully meet your long-term needs.
What is the Notion Art Catalog Template?
The Notion Art Catalog Template is a free, customizable tool designed for artists and collectors to manage their artwork inventory, exhibitions, and portfolios effortlessly. It offers multiple views (like Gallery or Table) and allows you to add custom fields so that you can tailor it to your specific needs.
How do I duplicate the Notion template?
To duplicate the template, simply click the provided link. Once the template loads in Notion, click the "Duplicate" button in the top-right corner of the page. This will add a copy of the template to your own Notion workspace, where you can customize and organize your art catalog as needed.
Why use Notion instead of other art management tools?
Notion offers a free, flexible, and easy-to-customize solution, making it ideal as a minimum viable product (MVP) for art cataloging. Unlike other art management tools—such as Artwork Archive, Art Galleria, or Collector Systems—that often require a paid subscription or have short free trial periods, Notion lets you start organizing your artwork with minimal time and financial investment. Plus, its versatility allows you to export your data or upgrade to a paid plan if your needs evolve.
Can I tailor the catalog for different audiences?
Absolutely! One of the major benefits of Notion is its flexibility. You can duplicate your original catalog and edit the copy to create different versions for various purposes. For example, you might share a selective portfolio with galleries or prepare a specialized list of artworks for an exhibition—all while keeping your master record intact. The mobile-responsive design also means that anyone can view the catalog easily on a laptop or mobile device.
What are the technical requirements for using this template?
For optimal viewing and management:
Image Resolution: Use high-quality images with a minimum of 300 DPI.
Supported File Formats: JPG, PNG, and TIFF.
Maximum File Size: Up to 5MB per image.
This ensures that your catalog looks professional and loads efficiently across devices.