ArtBarrage.com co-founder Kelly McCray says that in his years working as co-director of the
Edward Day Gallery, he's noticed that the purchase of art can be somewhat mystifying. "I've realized there's an intimidation factor -- you've got to walk into a gallery and perhaps you aren't sure of the language, you've got to talk to a dealer and maybe you aren't sure how to proceed." That was one of the factors he and partners RK Mann and Walter Willems hoped to address with the launch of their innovative new online contemporary art marketplace, which "soft" launched last week and will formally debut in September.
"We thought there should be a progression of the gallery-dealer model of art sales. This is a way for artists -- whether they're represented or not -- to get their work out to the worldwide marketplace, and for galleries and representatives to reach a broader audience as well."
The marquee feature of the site is the "barrage," where artists or representatives can post art for sale, initially free of charge. After the first month fees of less than $10 apply for posting, and the site takes a 17% per cent commission for work sold. Though the site is based in Toronto, the founders expect to host a global marketplace, and will conduct transactions in US dollars.
Writer: Edward Keenan
Source: Kelly McCray, Co-director/Curator, ArtBarrage.com
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