Art for All
New online marketplace supports college art students
Words by Sam Lauron Photos Courtesy ArtStartArt
ArtStartArt, a local art startup, aims to make the process of buying and selling art a more approachable and affordable experience to consumers and emerging artists alike.
The recently launched platform is creating a new way to curate and sell artwork for college students who are at the beginning of their careers. Art students from universities around the country submit their work to the website, and each month ArtStartArt curates a new collection of original work that’s available to buyers for a limited time. This unique method was conceived in hopes of providing art students with an accessible way to showcase their art, while also creating a one-of-a-kind buying experience for the consumer where they can discover emerging artists and directly support their budding careers.
Founded by Alok Marwaha and Erik Culver, the idea for the startup came to fruition when Culver, a former University of Texas Fine Arts student, realized there seemed to be a lack of inclusiveness in the buying and selling world of art, especially for budding artists. After graduating, Culver saw that most of the art he and his peers produced in school was left with no place to go. At the same time, he noticed many people did not have original artwork in their homes. To bridge the gap between the two communities, ArtStartArt was formed.
Keeping the student lifestyle in mind, the platform is free to use and provides plenty of resources that give students a better understanding of the art industry as a career. After students submit their work online, art curators thoughtfully choose which pieces will be listed for sale that month. Once a piece is sold, sales are split between the artists and curators with 60% commission going straight into the student’s pocket. Buyers will not only be supporting individual artists, but also university art programs throughout the country because 5% of each sale is donated to the student’s fine arts program.
Every piece of art on the site is typically priced between $200 and $500. The mediums featured in the marketplace vary from photography, paintings, drawings, sculptures, and more.
To browse through the original artwork that’s currently for sale and collect new and original pieces, visit artstartart.com. Students wanting to get involved can submit their work here.
Contact
artstartart.com | @artstartart
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