So you have decided to buy some art. Probably you have moved into a new home and want to decorate empty walls, maybe you decided to start collecting artworks, or possibly you are in need of some inspiration and positive emotions, or even would like to empower your status.
Whatever the reason is — buying art online seems a good idea, because it is just more convenient than visiting number of art galleries.
You don’t have to run around the town searching for the painting and feeling shy when it comes to asking for a price. Millions of artworks are available online with just a few clicks and you can buy one literally lying on the sofa.
If you are not an experience art buyer, you may probably know a few famous websites that sell art, but actually, there are a lot more.
I have been running my online art boutique and exploring the online art market for more than three years now and decided to share some of my online art market knowledge in this blog post as one of my missions nowadays — is to encourage people to buy art and I want to be sure that you know all online places where you can find a perfect piece :)
Before you start browsing art online
You must consider several things:
- Do you want an original, unique artwork or a more affordable print would do?
- If you are looking for a print - would you go for limited edition, or even more affordable open edition?
- What sizes and styles do you like?
- Is the name and fame of the artist important to you?
- What is your budget?
If it is the first time you are buying an artwork, I would suggest to take a look at my earlier blog post “How to buy art that you will love forever”.
Once you know more or less what kind of artwork you are looking for (and it is very important to have some kind of the vision, because there are so many artworks on offer all over internet these days), you can start exploring.
Types of websites that sell art
There are three types of platforms where you can buy art online:
- Art sales platforms — selling original artworks an prints
- Print to order services — you choose the image of the artwork you like, they print it on your desired medium and size.
- E-commerce websites that among millions of other items, sell art as well.
You can also buy art on social media and online art auctions, but these are quite wide and separate subjects, so I will probably leave them for a future blog post.
Online art galleries and platforms
So, let’s start with the list. Please note that this is not a rating and I am not giving any preference or recommendations. The purpose of this list is to help you find an online place that is best for you to discover and buy art.
I am listing all websites in alphabetical with a short comment, so you can decide which one to browse.
All information provided below is a short summary of what I found on each website.
An extension of a popular ABSOLUT brand with a goal to make contemporary art more accessible, support artists and democratise the process of acquiring art. This platform sells signed limited edition prints.
Number of artworks: about 240
Curation: Yes
Prices start at: 160 EUR
An art sales platform targeting collectors, focused on contemporary art in various styles, forms and mediums.
Number of artworks: 226
Curation: Yes
Prices start at: about 500 USD
The place where you can buy original art and prints directly from the artist. Established in 2011 this is one of the most popular art sales platforms among the artists.
Number of artworks: over 10 thousand
Curation: No
Prices start at: about 40 EUR
As the domain suggests, this online gallery is primarily focused on UK market, it offers affordable original art and limited edition prints.
Number of artworks: over 45 thousand
Curation: No
Prices start at: 5 GBP
5. artgoda.com
Online art gallery, a boutique offering affordable contemporary art - paintings, sculpture, drawings and limited edition prints. All artworks are carefully curated and handpicked by the founder.
Number of artworks: over 300
Curation: Yes
Prices start at: 55 EUR
One more curated art platform, representing 32 emerging artists.
Number of artworks: N/A
Curation: Yes
Prices start at: 210 EUR
7. artlimes.com
This is a marketplace where you can buy art, jewellery and design items directly from artists, galleries or art dealers.
Number of artworks: over 80 thousand limited edition prints + original artworks
Curation: Yes
Prices start at: 100
Established by French entrepreneurs, this art platform is used by more than 160 thousand artists, you can buy art from artists directly and choose from originals, reproductions and even digital image bank — by buying licences to download the artworks.
Number of artworks: 2.4 million
Curation: No
Prices start at: 10 EUR
9. artnet.com
Established in 1990 as a resource for art market information, today it is one of the most important platforms used by galleries and art dealers. It offers tools for art market research, as well as possibility to buy art at the auctions or from the galleries, representing 35 thousand artists.
Number of artworks: over 170 thousand.
Curation: Yes, artworks are curated by the galleries that are representing artists on the platform
Prices: most prices are available upon request
10. artpiq.net
This website offers original artworks and prints by young, professional artists and helps to invest into emerging talents.
Number of artworks: over 600
Curation: artists are required to have an art school background
Prices start at: 58 EUR
11. artplode.com
A place you can buy an artwork directly from the artist, a gallery or an art dealer.
Number of artworks: N/A
Curation: No
Prices start at: 1000 USD
12. artprice.com
Initially established as an art price index, this website also offers possibility to buy art from galleries and art dealers. The index lists over 725 thousand artists and it’s marketplace offers thousands of artworks for sale.
Number of artworks: over 63 thousand.
Curation: No
Prices start at: N/A - you must log in and contact gallery for a price
13. artrepublic.com
One of the oldest art sales platforms. Established in 1999, Artrepublic mostly focuses on prints by famous artists as well as young, emerging talents.
Number of artworks: over 6 thousand
Curation: Yes
Prices start at: 20 EUR
14. artsper.com
French platform where contemporary art is sold by the galleries, wide choice of pop art, variety of styles and mediums.
Number of artworks: 130 thousand
Curation: Yes, as artworks on offer are selected by galleries, plus the curated collections are created on a regular basis.
Prices start at: 15 EUR
15. artsy.net
Probably one of the best known art sales platforms used by galleries and art dealers. You can buy an artwork at a fixed price or participate in an auction. The website positions itself as a platform for collecting and discovering art.
Number of artworks: over 1 million
Curation: features curated collections
Prices start at: 80 USD
16. artsyhome.com
This is the place where you can buy unique artisan items - not only art, but also things like furniture and jewellery.
Number of artworks: N/A
Curation: No
Prices start at: 10 USD
17. artstar.com
Curated selection of contemporary art, the platform is mostly focusing on prints in limited editions.
Number of artworks: about 100
Curation: Yes
Prices start at: 150 USD
18. artupia.com
Relevantly new kid on the block, Italian startup offering interesting concept of buying art. The prices of artworks sold by the artists go up as they are receiving more views and likes by website visitors.
Number of artworks: N/A
Curation: No
Prices start at: 9 EUR
19. askart.com
Another place to discover art, research market prices and buy artworks offered by galleries and artists directly.
Number of artworks: over 9 thousand
Curation: No
Prices: available upon contacting the seller.
20. degreeart.com
One of the leading online art galleries in UK, focusing on emerging artists and offering services to investors investing in art as a financial asset. The platform offers unique artworks as well as editions.
Number of artworks: over 9 thousand
Curation: Yes
Prices start at: 15 GBP
21. ideelart.com
Online art gallery focusing on abstract art (both original paintings and prints), representing 60 artists.
Number of artworks: about 1.5 thousand
Curation: Yes
Prices start at: 470 EUR
22. newbloodart.com
Curated online art platform, representing young, emerging talents.
Number of artworks: over 2 thousand
Curation: Yes
Prices start at: 100 GBP
23. riseart.com
Showcases art by emerging and mid-career artists, offers original artworks and editions.
Number of artworks: over 10 thousand
Curation: Yes
Prices start at: 115 GBP
24. saatchiart.com
Probably the largest website where you can buy art directly from thousands of artists, offering original artworks as well as editions.
Number of artworks: over 3.6 million
Curation: through featured collections
Prices start at: 135 USD
25. singulart.com
Offers artworks from selected artists, who have been recognised nationally and/or awarded with art prizes.
Number of artworks: over 130 thousand
Curation: Yes
Prices start at: 250 EUR
26. tricera.net
An online art gallery operating in Japan, established with a goal to promote Japanese art to global audiences.
Number of artworks: over 1000
Curation: Yes
Prices start at: 26 USD
27. ugallery.com
Sells artworks that are exclusive to the gallery and are created only by the artists the gallery represents.
Number of artworks: over 7 thousand
Curation: Yes
Prices start at: 75 USD
28. widewalls.ch
This platform is dedicated to modern and contemporary art sold by galleries.
Number of artworks: N/A
Curation: Yes, as artworks are selected by the galleries.
Prices start at: 15 USD
29. zatista.com
The place where you can buy original artworks only, also provides advisory services.
Number of artworks: over 20 thousand
Curation: through featured collections
Prices start at: 50 USD
30. 20x200.com
This platform sells limited edition prints in variety of genres. You can buy a photography edition or a print of an abstract artwork in a desired size and framing.
Number of artworks: 984
Curation: Yes
Prices start at: 5 USD
31. 1stDibs.com
This platform offers antiques, jewellery, curated home decor products as well as variety of artworks - paintings, sculptures, prints, drawings, photography and mixed media.
Number of artworks: 270 thousand
Curation: Yes
Prices start at: 60 USD
If we compare all online places where you can buy art, Saatchiart and Artsy are definitely leading according to the number of artworks available for sale - more than three million and more than one million accordingly! Wow!
For some it may sound like an advantage - a sea of art to choose from, but honestly, I can hardly imagine a busy modern human browsing such website for days looking for a perfect artwork…
Personally I would look at smaller websites, art boutiques that curate the artworks carefully. They will save time and probably will have more personal approach to the sales process.
Print on demand art sites
These art selling platforms offer artworks in open editions and probably are a good choice for those who have a tight budget.
They offer an enormous choice of art. All you have to do is find an artwork you like, place an order online, the artwork will be printed and delivered to your door.
The most popular places to buy affordable art prints are as follows (in an alphabetical order):
33. icanvas.com
34. redbubble.com
35. society6.com
36. zazzle.com
Buying art on E-Commerce websites
Of course popular e-commerce platforms offer art for sale as well. Whether you want to buy an original piece, affordable print or maybe even a downloadable / printable artwork, it is worth to check what big giants have to offer.
Quite often artists have their own shops there, or people are re-selling artworks they do not need anymore.
The choice is really very wide, so make sure to dedicate some time looking for a perfect piece on:
37. amazon.com
38. ebay.com
39. etsy.com
40. houzz.com
Online art auctions
For those who are looking to invest in art and acquire valuable artworks, auctions are the place to go. Online too.
41. Christies.com
42. Catawiki.com
43. Invaluable.com
44. Sothebys.com
I hope you found this list useful and would like to wish you an exiting and inspiring journey in buying art online.
If you have some doubts in the process - do not hesitate to check my earlier blog post where I give a few tips how to make your online art purchase hassle free.
Don’t forget - you are welcome visit my online art gallery and don't forget to SUBSCRIBE for our monthly newsletter!