INSIDE THE FRAME ABN BUY DIRECT,
SELL DIRECT ART MARKET NETWORK STARTS A NEW TREND IN ONLINE ART BROKERING
T
he world of buying and selling art is high-powered and oſt en hard to negotiate. Many online art bro- kers specialize only in high-end art, or limit their selections to well-known artists. Last year, Mark Cunningham, owner of Gal- lery Art Market in Springfi eld, Missouri, created
Artmarketnetwork.com, an online brokerage service dedicated to connecting buyers and sellers directly, without third party involvement, and off ering a wide selection of art from estab- lished and emerging artists alike. Because it's is a true broker- age site, Artmarketnetwork.com gives artists, art collectors and art dealers the opportunity to sell—or resell—works on the international stage, directly to interested parties. T e advantages are immediately apparent. Art collectors
may want to part with some or all of their existing collection, and Artmarketnetwork.com off ers them a convenient show- case for everything from sculpture to paintings. Art dealers can use the site to enhance their gallery recognition while selling directly to the client through the site. And artists no longer have to struggle with the eff orts and competition of getting into brick and mortar galleries to have their work viewed by potential clients. As for art lovers, there's no need to scour galleries and
art exhibits for their acquisitions and no hard sell. T ere's also the chance to locate desired artworks at very reasonable prices. It's a win-win for the art world. A quick tour of the Website turns up works from artists as
varied as nationally-renowned Navajo painter R.C. Gorman, light painter Jesse Barnes and noted wildlife artist Susan Morrison. T e site's carefully constructed navigation feature lets buyers review available work by selecting to view private seller, artist or gallery/dealer, then by media type, edition type or category. Buyers can, therefore, peruse the site in a highly selective manner, choosing only those artworks that will complement their homes, offi ces or existing collections. T e most interesting and unusual aspect of the site is that
22 Larry Dyke's Confetti Rooster, courtesy of Artmarketnetwork.com
it acts merely as virtual display space for sellers, who join the site through a free membership. Art Market Network collects a modest commission on each sale, but the transaction itself is enacted entirely between buyer and seller, who utilize the Website for security. Cunningham—who has been involved in the art market
since 1988—says he designed the site "to help create a new way to build a network of relationships within the art indus- try." He spent a number of years bringing the site to fruition, and has addressed the issues of copyright infringement, con- venient payment and simplicity of viewing and selecting fi ne art pieces. Cunningham notes that over the years he has had many
people ask him to help them sell or locate art. He says he has seen trends in the marketplace emerge, but right now he's starting his own trend—one that he hopes will help the mar- keting of art evolve. For more information, visit www.artmarketnetwork.com.
Contact Mark Cunningham at mark@artmarketnetwork.com or 417-865-1888.
WINTER 2012