News

Amazon adds fine art marketplace

August 7, 2013

Amazon.com Inc. today announced the launch of Amazon Art (amazon.com/art), a marketplace that gives customers direct access to more than 40,000 works of fine art from more than 150 galleries and dealers.

At launch, Amazon Art will showcase artworks from more than 4,500 artists. According to a news release, the store is one of the largest online collections of original and limited edition artwork for purchase directly from galleries and dealers.

The new store features discovery tools to help customers find offers, as well as detailed information about the works of art. Customers can explore fine art from galleries of all sizes, including Paddle8 in New York, Holden Luntz in Miami, McLoughlin Gallery in San Francisco, Modernbook in San Francisco and Catherine Person Gallery in Seattle.

"We are excited to bring one of the largest selections of fine art direct from galleries to our customers. Amazon Art gives galleries a way to bring their passion and expertise about the artists they represent to our millions of customers," said Peter Faricy, vice president for the Amazon Marketplace. "We're thrilled to bring the excitement and emotional connection of art to our customers."

Osman Khan, COO and founding partner of Paddle8, said the Amazon marketplace will make it more convenient for the gallery's existing clientele, and to reach new customers.

"Paddle8 Editions sells works by internationally renowned artists to benefit the world's leading non-profits and cultural institutions. Through our new relationship with Amazon, we can dramatically expand our audience while simultaneously providing access to affordable, limited-edition works by some of the most significant artists working today," Khan said.

Holden Luntz, owner and founder of Holden Luntz Gallery adds that the launch fits today's consumer demands.

"We operate a wonderful fine art gallery, yet realize that the models for dealing in contemporary arts have evolved in this digital age and ecommerce is a channel to reach more clientele," he said. "Amazon is an "innovative leader in exploring new creative ventures and connecting the world. They have consistently put the buyer first and built a reputation for integrity and high quality."

Access to gallery selection

The Amazon Art store provides customers with a gallery experience. From Folk Art to Impressionism to Modern Art, Amazon Art features a broad selection to suit any customer, from the experienced collector to a first-time art buyer, according to the release.

Customers can browse unique works of art, including photographs from Clifford Ross starting at $200, popular fine art like Andy Warhol's "Sachiko" for $45,000, historic artwork from Claude Monet including, "L'Enfant a la tasse, portrait de Jean Monet" for $1.45 million and works from iconic artists such as Norman Rockwell's "Willie Gillis: Package from Home" for $4.85 million.

Amazon Art offers artworks from galleries of all sizes from across the U.S. and includes galleries located in the UK, the Netherlands and Canada.

Customers can learn about the work of art, the artist, the provenance and exhibition history and browse additional artworks from the artist or gallery. When customers shop on Amazon Art, they can narrow search results to meet their tastes by using filters such as subject, style, color, size, price and gallery.

"We're pleased to share our expertise in ecommerce with galleries and dealers looking to expand their reach," said Faricy. "In working directly with galleries, we've heard their desire to connect with new customers and be able to share their artists and creativity with the world. We look forward to working with them to reach customers who previously would not have had access to their collections of art."

Galleries and dealers interested in selling on Amazon Art can learn more at http://go.amazonservices.com/fineart.contactus.html.

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