In fact, some online art platforms operate without much human oversight at all, which can be risky to both artists and buyers. For example, if the online gallery is run by someone who hasn’t seen the actual art and built a relationship with the artist, can the buyer have faith that the art is accurately priced, archivally sound, and offers investment potential?
Saray Ryan, curator and founder of New Blood Art in the U.K. doesn’t think so. She works with new and emerging artists to ensure that their works are realistically priced and released in a carefully managed way.
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| Untitled II by Emma Devane, mixed media on canvas, 175 x 175 cm |
Ryan started New Blood Art in 2004 because she recognized that selling art online “offered an economically viable way of selling truly affordable artwork by talented young artists without being crippled by the overhead of a physical gallery space.”
The staff at New Blood Art visits all of the UK graduate art shows to find the best new talent. The site currently offers more than 2,000 pieces at prices as low as ₤50.00.
“Over the last nine years, we have built good relationships with both the clients we serve and the artists that we represent. We have a good track record for identifying artists that have gone on to do very well and whose work has increased in value over time,” says Ryan. “As a gallerist, it is vital to get to know artists personally over time, assessing their commitment to their practice and the quality of the work they produce.
This insight is critical when determining investment potential for clients.”
Ryan not only gets to know the artists whose work appears in her online gallery, she also interacts with art buyers: “I do interact with personally with our clients and often meet with them and speak on the telephone. Without this interaction, I’m not sure we would have the same loyalty.”
LINKS
New Blood Art
