A new website has launched this week out of Chicago that connects art enthusiasts with original works from living artists across the globe. ArtBarcs is a platform where art lovers can not only browse and purchase pieces from curated online gallery of artwork, but uncover entirely new artists through the service’s recommendation engine.
ArtBarcs was founded by Lucy Q. Liu and Russ W. Rosenzweig, a husband-and-wife entrepreneurial team who spent three years building the portfolio of artists. The art network currently features more than 500 hand-selected artists from five different continents.
ArtBarcs uses patent-pending Art Recommendation Technology to keep track of the works you “heart” on the website to build a profile of your art taste and offer new artists that may interest you. The company will tailor its suggestions to stay within your budget, and users can even send in images of pieces they already own to get personalized recommendations from an ArtBarcs concierge.
The website is looking to be a resource for both art lovers and artists, who often struggle with ways to share their artwork and find their audience. Since each individual piece of art is vetted for the platform, art collectors can be sure that what they’re purchasing is a quality, original work, and engaging artists can get the exposure they need to build a following.
“Our hope is to compliment the traditional art buying process by creating immediate, personal connections between the viewer and the art through a more approachable and comprehensible art collection,” said Liu. “As a patron, you get breadth, depth, and efficiency, a team of professionals who are knowledgable and fun to work with, and pricing that puts fine art in everyone’s reach.”
Alongside its curated online gallery, ArtBarcs has launched an ArtBarcode feature that will give users the ability to scan a work’s barcode, immediately giving them information on the piece and allowing them to share it with friends.
The art collectors network is currently free and open to the public. Head over to ArtBarcs.com to check out the curated gallery featuring some of the best artists working today.
