«GOOD BUSINESS IS THE BEST ART»

The world wide web is frequently cast as the great enemy of traditional culture, undermining the music industry, the film industry and publishing. Yet one form of art has now found a way through – perhaps even a way to thrive – and provide careers for artists of the future. The visual arts are booming online.

This is the claim of a growing number of virtual art galleries, backed this spring by an annual survey of the fine art market. The survey shows the value of the online trade is now around £1.57bn and is likely to more than double by 2018. Experienced art collectors and newcomers are both increasingly using websites to find original contemporary works and ordering them for delivery like furniture. There is no need to go to a gallery or deal with frosty gallery owners. Instead, art can be viewed, paid for and returned if it does not match expectation.

"We have reached a tipping point," said Osman Khan, co-founder ofNew York-based Paddle8 online auction site. "People feel more comfortable with the experience of buying expensive things online." In January, Rebecca Wilson, chief curator and director of artist development for Saatchi Art, moved to Los Angeles from London to work full time on the website's projects. She agrees that the business has taken off.

-The Guardian

 May 10 2014