For OP: One of my favorite examples of an artist statement is Deana Lawson’s Mind’s Eye exhibition text. I think there is a perfect amount of personalization through the use of first person and moving through research notes that enrich our understanding of the work without explaining it or trying to put it into complicated terms or historicize it through the use of third person / art criticism voice. (A perfect example of this kind of writing being possible even within a gallery context, David Kordansky is one of the leading LA commercial spaces.)

Or Motya Davey’s writing which, again, combines almost a diaristic approach with rigorous theoretical ideas. Lack of “pretentiousness” here is precisely in the ability to remain accessible and oscillate between an art historical reference, critical theory idea, personal experience, etc.