In the digital era, being present online has become a necessity. Almost every successful artist is present in at least one online art exhibition platform, if not more. So which art selling platform is best for you? Which platform will offer your maximum exposure to relevant audiences?
Let’s find out!
In this article, we’ll discuss the ins and outs of several ways to sell your art pieces online, what each platform provides, and how to select the correct business model for your niche.
What Are The Best Platforms To Sell Art Online?
Online art platforms
Online art platforms are one of the best places to sell painting and other forms of visual art. You can create your own page or portfolio. These platforms generally have a predefined template setup and monthly/yearly subscription fees.
Some renowned online platforms even offer professional curation and foster partnerships with leading art galleries. Some platforms even offer a blog section and social media plug-ins for better marketing and bead building.
Print-On-Demand Platform
Print-on-demand online platforms print the artist’s images/ unique artworks on several products, including pillows, coffee mugs, canvas, notecards, t-shirts and clothing, notecards, greeting cards, and more.
These platforms either pay a royalty to the artist or define a base price for particular products and allow the artist to determine the retail price.
E-commerce Art Stores
E-commerce art stores function as the online counterpart to brick-and-mortar art galleries. Online art stores mostly target interior designers, art consultants, and other eminent professional art enthusiasts who purchase art for their clients.
The best online gallery to sell art for upcoming and budding artists are platforms having partnerships with renowned art galleries. Apart from selling your art, you can build a brand for yourself through professional representation and increased exposure.
How Professionally Curated Art Galleries Are Better Than Generic Online Platforms?
The most obvious benefit is quality and authenticity. Curated art platforms only host quality artworks authenticated by professional curators. Additionally, when these artworks are represented in any partner galleries, the visitors can enjoy a more cohesive, curated collection.
The professional curators also market and describe your artwork to potential clients to ensure sales.
Sites that offer free access and anyone to market and sell art pieces tend to have an uneven appeal. These sites don’t have consistency in presenting quality. Sometimes a customer might discover something extraordinarily wonderful or the worst art piece.
Browsing through these sites can be exciting and entertaining. But high-quality clients generally prefer an online art exhibition platform that is highly selective and maintains a high standard of quality. These galleries generally follow a niche-wise representation.
Also Read: Art Blog: A Crazy-Easy Way To Sell Your Artwork
How Do Online Art Galleries Charge Commission?
When a gallery or ar platform sells for you, they are taking over the responsibilities and costs of marketing and selling. That is a significant amount of work. Thus galleries/ platforms charge a commission or subscription fee from artists for their work.
If you’re selling your artwork directly, you should include the expenses for marketing and selling in your artwork price since you’re self-representing.
Some galleries offering continuous platforms to artists charge a subscription fee for hosting the artwork, maintaining partnerships with galleries, professional curation, and representation. The subscription can be yearly or monthly and involves a minimal expense starting from EURO 1.
Regardless of the platform you choose, ensure to choose a reputed and the best online gallery to sell art. That brings us to our next section-
How To Gauge The Reputation Of The Online Art Exhibition Platform?
This is one of the most crucial components when choosing your exhibition platform is reputation. Without a good reputation, your artwork might not receive the deserving exposure and attract high-value clients.
The first thing you can do is go through their website and see the profiles already existing on the platform. You can connect with them through social media to know the services and exposure provided by the platform.
You can also check the artist reviews and ratings on Google and other renowned third-party platforms.
It is also suggested that you reach out to your artist circle or join forums and discussion groups to get an idea of various platforms. Some platforms might be excellent but not suitable for your particular niche. Therefore contact artists that belong to your niche to get the best idea.
Should You Opt For Online Art Platforms Or Brick-and-Mortar Stores?
Let’s face the fact- the 21st century is the era of competition. With digitization, more and more artists are becoming tech-savvy, getting better opportunities for recognition and finding their way to the limelight. Thus, the competition has become more fierce than ever.
The best way to make your mark in the art industry is to remain omnipresent. Therefore the best places to sell painting aren’t just online platforms but brick-and-mortar art galleries as well. At online venues, you get greater exposure to your artwork.
At physical galleries, you get to personally curate and interact with art collectors and enthusiasts, delivering you experiences that can be pivotal in your artistic journey.
Additionally, social media marketing via Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, etc., can be powerful tools for boosting your audience footfalls in your art shows both online and offline. Email newsletters are another way for personalized marketing and building a portfolio of loyal clients.
Wrapping Up
Art can be expressed in several forms, including paintings, sculptures, art prints, photography, street art, etc. Finding the right platform is the best way to improve your visibility and sell art online.
