How would you describe a piece of art to someone who can’t see it? Visual descriptions are a written, or spoken, guide of what we can objectively see in works of art. As part of our mission and programming, the education department at Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM) writes visual descriptions for nearly all new exhibitions and art works acquired by the museum to make art more accessible to the audience.
Pérez Art Museum Miami produces visual descriptions to aid guests with visual impairments in having well-rounded and meaningful experiences at the museum or when visiting pamm.org. These resources can be found on the website and in the digital exhibition guides. Though they are written with visual impairments in mind, visual descriptions can be beneficial to everyone by establishing a framework for discussing and processing art.
The departmental process for writing visual descriptions has developed over several years and has become a delicate balance between structure and artistic liberty.
When writing these pieces, we prioritize clarity and accessibility. We encourage our team to use simple, short sentences that are direct and allow for single thoughts or images to stand out in the mind. Along with that, we continuously find ways to simplify words to ensure accessibility for all visitors, regardless of age or English proficiency.
Each visual description roughly follows this outline:
1. Basic information about the object
2. The object’s dimensions are orientation
3. A summary of the content and style of the object
4. A detailed description of the object
5. An interpretation (if necessary)
The painting Mosquito Hall by Hew Locke was featured in the exhibition, Sprit in the Land.
Victoria Ravelo, PAMM digital and interpretive content associate, wrote a visual description of Mosquito Hall for the audio guide accompanying the exhibition. Below we break down this example into key points and concepts we try cover with every visual description we write at PAMM.
What to say: When starting a visual description, it is important to first state basic information about the artwork in a clear and direct manner: include the title of the work, the artist’s name, the medium, and, if relevant, the year it was created and where it can be seen.
“Mosquito Hall” is a painting by Hew Locke made in 2013. It is made of Acrylic paint on chromogenic print.
Dimensions and orientation: For paintings and sculptures, provide the dimensions and orientation—be specific if you know the measurements, or mention if you are approximating.
It measures roughly seven feet by four feet. It is hung in portrait orientation, meaning that its shortest side runs parallel to the ground.
Give the big picture: After this, offer a brief, overarching summary of the artwork’s content and style. This “big picture” helps listeners build a general mental image before delving into the detailed description that follows.
The painting depicts a building surrounded by lush foliage and backed by the image of a large woman holding a child.
Establish a point of view: Choose a starting point for your description—such as the top of the artwork, the upper right or left quadrant, the center, or by describing the background before moving into the foreground—and then proceed systematically from there. Maintaining a consistent point of view throughout the description helps avoid confusion; for example, if you begin by describing each quadrant but suddenly shift to the background after covering only two sections, it can disorient the listener. Additionally, when using directional phrases like “to the left” or “on the right,” clarify whether you are speaking from your own point of view as the viewer or from the perspective of the subject within the artwork. This practice ensures the spatial relationships within the work are as clear as possible. The same approach applies when describing architecture or sculpture: be sure to establish your position in relation to the object—whether you are standing across the street, at its base looking up, or sitting on a nearby bench—so that listeners can better visualize the work and their imagined surroundings.
The foreground of the painting is made of mostly browns, greens, and blues that form a landscape that is like that found in many parts of Florida: densely populated trees and brush that is vibrantly green.
For more complicated works, like sculptures or video pieces, a different approach is necessary for every instance. The general rules we follow are to give impressions of the entire piece instead of navigating every inch or minute of the piece and making sure we establish a concrete point of view and sense of time.
Relate and find analogies or comparisons: To make visual descriptions even more vivid and relatable, it’s helpful to incorporate analogies or comparisons. Finding the right comparison can strengthen the listener’s understanding by connecting unfamiliar visuals to more familiar concepts.
Palm trees are seen sticking out from the tree line and their branches are leaning, appearing to be swayed by the motion of the breeze.
Color: Including color in your description is also important. Many individuals who are blind had some vision earlier in life and can recall colors, while even those who are congenitally blind often know cultural associations tied to specific colors. Don’t hesitate to describe colors, as they add richness and depth to the mental image.
Underneath the trees and brush, there is a body of water that is reflecting all the green and yellows surrounding it but with traces of light blue streaking down toward the bottom of the canvas. Sitting in this body of water is a small rectangular structure with six windows and sitting upon brown wooden stilts embedded in the ground. The railing of the balcony is covered in greenery that could be vines, moss, or hung plants.
Behind the foliage and the building, stands the image of a woman. She is wearing what appears to be jewels in her hair, giving the impression of a crown. On her body is a loose-fitting dress and in her right arm she holds a small child. The child is covered in plants and flowers. Both the woman and the child and all their clothes are painted monochromatically, meaning they are comprised of various tones of a limited color palette.
Refer to technique: When relevant, also comment on the artist’s style and technique. For example, is the paint applied thickly and roughly, or with fine, delicate lines? Noting the texture and method can help convey how the artist’s technique shapes the emotional or sensory experience of the work.
They are bright green and yellow with their outlines being made of darker green and orange. Behind them the background is made of abstractions of figures that are difficult to make out.
Continue in logical progression: Throughout the description, continue to follow the logical progression you established at the start. Staying consistent—whether moving through foreground to background, or quadrant by quadrant—helps listeners build a clear, coherent understanding of the artwork.
They are all painted in bright yellows and a deep orange which gives the impression of sunlight.
Very tiny interpretation (optional): Finally, adding a small touch of interpretation can sometimes enhance a visual description. A slight interpretive comment can help bridge gaps in purely objective description, creating a more cohesive and vivid mental image for the listener. When used thoughtfully and sparingly, these moments of interpretation enhance the flow of the description without overwhelming it, allowing for a stronger and more engaging experience.
While it may seem relatively simple to describe how or what something looks like to someone else, doing so in a way that is clear, concise, respectful, and fully developed is a major challenge that our team members have to be regularly trained in. We rely on each other’s feedback to refine our approach.
Visual descriptions are more than just words—they are a bridge to experiencing art in new ways. Whether you’re a visitor with a visual impairment, an art enthusiast, or someone looking to sharpen your observation skills, we invite you to explore our descriptions online and experience art through language.
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