Brief - The Hustle

Fair Art Fair is like a dating app for fine art

Written by Juliet Bennett Rylah | Jun 25, 2021 7:36:42 AM

Ever wanted a Tinder for artists and collectors? Well, it’s here.

Founded by London-based artist Stacie McCormick, Fair Art Fair is a new app that directly connects unrepresented artists and buyers.

It essentially cuts out the middleman (the gallery) and allows collectors to match with and buy art they love. It launches on July 31, per NYT.

The app takes 0% commission…

… and instead uses a subscription model priced at £15 (~$21) per month.

  • Artists get an account where they can digitally display their work, handle sales, and connect with opportunities.
  • Collectors can discover and buy art directly from vetted artists, catalog their collections, and access Fair Art Fair’s calendar of exhibitions.
  • Curators can develop their network, build exhibitions, and use a noticeboard to find staff or artists.

There’s also an “Art Curious” option that lets people browse art for free.

McCormick’s own art gallery survived the pandemic…

… thanks to a £35k (~$48k) emergency fund from Arts Council England. She used a second £150k (~$209k) infusion to build the app, and says she needs between 1k-1.5k subscribers to cover expenses.

Experts tell the NYT the app could be successful if well curated.

Now to find the perfect piece to hang behind you for your Zoom calls.