How to Cite an Artwork in MLA

• Tomas Elliott (Ph.D.)
• Published on 04/25/2025

Citing an artwork in MLA (Modern Language Association) style requires following a consistent format based on the MLA Handbook (9th edition). Whether the artwork was viewed in person at an exhibition or online through a museum website, certain key elements must be included: the artist’s name, the title of the artwork, the date of creation, and the location where the artwork is housed or displayed. 

This guide explains how to cite different types of artwork using MLA format in simple English and a clear, third-person narrative.

Key Elements to Remember in MLA Artwork Citations

• Artist’s Name (Author): The artist is treated as the author of the artwork in MLA style. Write the last name first, followed by the first name. If multiple artists collaborated, list them in the order shown in the source, separated by commas, with “and” before the final name.
• Title of the Artwork: Italicize the title of the artwork. Use title case, which means capitalizing the first and last words and all major words in between. If the artwork is untitled, provide a brief description (not italicized and in sentence case).
• Date of Creation: Include the year the artwork was created. If the exact year is unknown, write “n.d.” which stands for “no date.” This element usually follows the artwork title or appears before the website/container name in online citations.
• Title of the Exhibition or Website (Container): The “container” refers to the larger body in which the artwork is presented.
• Exhibition Dates (for In-Person Citations): When citing artworks seen at an exhibition, include the starting and ending dates of the exhibition, written in day-month-year format.
• Name of the Institution (Museum or Gallery): Provide the full name of the museum, gallery, or hosting institution where the artwork was displayed. This applies to both physical and digital sources.
• Location (City): Include the city where the museum or exhibition is located. If the city is part of the institution’s name or well-known (e.g., The Louvre in Paris), you can still include it for clarity.
• URL (for Online Citations): For artworks viewed online, always include a direct URL to the specific page of the artwork. In MLA 9th edition, omit the “https://” or “http://” from the beginning of the URL.

Citing an Artwork from an Exhibition (Viewed in Person)

When an artwork is seen at a museum or gallery during a temporary exhibition, the citation must provide information about the artist, artwork, exhibition, and museum. The exhibition functions as the container, so its name should be italicized. Dates of the exhibition and the location of the museum are also required.

Citation	Monet, Claude. Water Lilies and Japanese Bridge. Impressionist Masterpieces from France, 10 Mar. 2023–15 July 2023, National Gallery of Art, Washington.
Structure	Artist’s Last Name, First Name. Title of Artwork. Title of Exhibition, start date–end date, Name of Museum or Gallery, City.

In this example, Monet is the artist. The painting was part of a special exhibition at the National Gallery of Art. The citation includes the title of the artwork, the name and date range of the exhibition, and the museum’s location.

Citing an Artwork Viewed Online

If the artwork is accessed through an online museum collection or gallery website, the citation should include the artist’s name, the title of the artwork, the year it was created, the name of the hosting website or institution, and the full URL (without “https://”).

Citation	Kahlo, Frida. The Two Fridas. 1939. Museo de Arte Moderno, www.mam.org.mx/coleccion/106-las-dos-fridas.
Structure	Artist’s Last Name, First Name. Title of Artwork. Year of Creation. Name of Website, URL.

This citation shows that the painting was created by Frida Kahlo in 1939 and is available to view on the website of Museo de Arte Moderno in Mexico. The URL directs readers to the exact location of the artwork online.

Citing a Sculpture or Installation from an Exhibition

Sculptures and other three-dimensional works are cited using the same structure. The name of the artist, the title of the piece, the exhibition where it appeared, the exhibition dates, the museum or gallery, and the city must be listed.

Citation	Moore, Henry. Reclining Figure: Hand. British Sculpture in the Twentieth Century, 5 Jan. 2024–2 Apr. 2024, Tate Britain, London.
Structure	Artist’s Last Name, First Name. Title of Artwork. Title of Exhibition, start date–end date, Name of Museum or Gallery, City.

This citation provides a clear record of the sculpture, its display context, and where and when it was exhibited.

Citing an Illustration or Drawing Viewed Online

Artworks such as drawings or illustrations found on museum websites follow the same citation format for online works.

Citation	Beatrix, Potter. Sketch of a Rabbit in a Meadow. 1903. The British Library, www.bl.uk/collection-items/beatrix-potter-rabbit-sketch.
Structure	Artist’s Last Name, First Name. Title of Artwork. Year of Creation. Name of Website, URL.

This example includes an illustration by Beatrix Potter, the year it was created, and a direct link to its location on the British Library’s website.

Use Italics Only for Artwork and Container Titles: In MLA, titles of artworks and containers (web site or exhibition title) should be italicized but not galleries, museums, or descriptive words. Use Title Case for Artwork Titles and Container Names: Title case is required by MLA in all titles, i.e., capitalizing the first and last word and every major word (nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, and subordinating conjunctions). Abbreviate Months in Exhibition Dates: When listing exhibition dates, MLA style abbreviates months that have more than four letters. Do not abbreviate May, June, or July. End Citations with a Period : In MLA style, place a period at the end of every citation.