Press Release  |  April 9, 2020

Art Storefronts reports independent artist and photographer sales surge 49% as coronavirus drives home decor industry to new heights

Austin, TX

3,000+ artists and photographers using Art Storefronts to run their businesses generated a combined 49% increase in art sales in March 2020 as compared to the previous year. 

Huge variety of subject matter, media types, and price points reflected.

Google Trends supports unprecedented interest in buying art online.


Between the sharp increase in Americans working from home and the social distancing mandates that seem likely to persist for many months to come, it's safe to say we are finding ourselves at home more than ever before. This is fueling a desire for home improvement that has resulted in dramatically increased spending on home decor, including fine art and photography. Through our art business consulting, we have been coaching our members on effective art marketing for years – allowing them to thrive in an environment where selling through your own website is one of the only viable channels left.

NICK FRIEND, ART STOREFRONTS CEO


AUSTIN, APRIL 9 2020 – Last month, Art Storefronts' platform-wide art sales saw a 49% increase year-over-year, suggesting the online art industry is not only surviving, but growing. 

Art Storefronts is an art business solution with website software some 3,000+ individual artists and photographers are currently using to sell their work online.

MATHIEU LACA, ART STOREFRONTS MEMBER SINCE 2016

ART BUYER BEHAVIOR AT A GLANCE

Across Art Storefronts, page views were up 28% in March 2020 as compared to the year prior. Average time on page increased by 6%, and overall sales increased by 49%. 

More buyers are shopping for art online – they're browsing longer and buying more.

A FEW NOTABLE SALES

No particular subject matter, niche, or price point is emphasized in our data. $60 photo prints are selling alongside $2,000 originals. 

Here is a brief look at a few notable sales from the past month:

April 5, 2020

Greater Bird-of-Paradise Sunrise Display
Tim Laman

SOLD ($728)

April 5, 2020

The King of the River
Gill Bustamante

SOLD ($1,321)


April 3, 2020

Whose Woods
Holly ​Whiting

SOLD ($1,444)

March 31, 2020

Canyon Light
David J. West

SOLD ($1,275)


March 25, 2020

The Red Arch of NYC Hall Subway
Len Cicio

SOLD ($265)

March 14, 2020

Still Life With Parrot Tulips and Madarins
Monique Sarkessian

SOLD ($2,070)


March 14, 2020

Soul of Santa Cruz
Tony Pagliaro

SOLD ($974)

March 11, 2020


Timp Fall Color Panorama

Johnny Adolphson

SOLD ($909)


We are rounding up notable art sales every 1-2 days on this page

THE INDUSTRY AT LARGE

In March, Google Trends reported a startling, hockey-stick increase to interest in the search term "buy art online" – surpassing even Q4 2019 activity.

Elsewhere, Sotheby's in London reported a 46% increase in bid activity during a recent digital auction. (source)

From independent artists selling prints through their Art Storefronts websites to multi-million dollar gallery auctions, the online art industry is growing and ready for the increased attention from collectors.

CONTACT INFO

Taylor Sinople | taylor.s@artstorefronts.com

About Art Storefronts: Art Storefronts is an art business solution that combines powerful website software with an extensive business and marketing consulting program. Artists and photographers are entrepreneurs and our goal is to help them grow their artwork into sustainable businesses that generate reliable income. 

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