Below, a source for gliding through the cyber lands of art and commerce:
Photography
“I’d look for both quality and substance when purchasing any art, but sight unseen via a website, I’d let quality lead the way,” says Voelker of navigating the waters of e-comm photography. “In terms of smart collecting, my recommendation is to stick to things that are archival—you want it to last, whether it’s a small or large investment.” He mentions sorting out framing as soon as possible with matte UV plexiglass. “Your viewing experience will be worth the small premium, not to mention the preservation of the artwork.”
Prints
“It’s possible to support artists and social causes at the same time, as evidenced by Art for Change, which offers affordable editions by important contemporary artists like Melissa Brown and Summer Wheat,” says Duffy. Pomares adds that Tappan Collective is another great resource for collectors to explore without feeling intimidated by the process. “They did a limited print with one of my favorite artists, Umar Rashid,” she says. “You can purchase a print for under $500, and he is someone who has exhibited around the world and is included in the ‘Made in L.A.’ exhibition at the Hammer Museum in Los Angeles.”
Sculptural Objects
“I think sculptures have an incredible ability to remind us of material, density, and volume in ways that are grounding and physical,” says Johnson. Pieces often merge fine art and functional design. “Prospect NY is pretty sharp for a shop that partners with artists to produce more design-oriented works,” she says, pointing out that Judy Chicago has several on the site, from printed silks to a Goddess Trio of a candle, soap, and a gold-plated pin. Also, “Hyperallergic has a great online store featuring pieces by artists like Mickalene Thomas and Louise Bourgeois.”
Illuminations
Continuing the thread of form meets function, electric works double as emotional light sources. “I love 1stDibs as my furniture and decorative objects go-to,” says Pomares. New concepts utilize tech in moving images. “Azikiwe Mohammed’s Looking for Solace from Infinite Objects is an innovative take on the limited edition—a work of video art that can fit on your desk,” says Duffy. “It’s also an incredible opportunity to live with a work of art by a New York Times–lauded artist.”
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Handhelds and Wearables
“I think one of the great things about buying zines and small-edition pieces from indie artists is the attention to detail,” says Voelker. “They are items usually made by the artists and meticulously crafted to share their message.” The category offers “a step into their world.” Consider Brian DeGraw’s album art for musical artists Quickly, Quickly’s upcoming The Long and Short of It or Benjamin Degen’s virtual merch table of drawings turned postcards. In the heart of Manhattan’s garment district, digital prints of Hope Macdonald’s paintings are hand cut and sewn into wearable pieces.
Paintings
“When I saw how Tappan Collective chooses guest curators to put together collections of works, I obviously was drawn to Maya Erskine’s picks,” says Johnson of the Pen15 creator-producer-actor’s selects, including Alexis Arnold’s sold-out Crystallized Books series and Ali Beletic’s Material and the Sensual painting. She adds that “GIFC (Got It for Cheap) has a cool platform that features shows by emerging curators and artists—the works are available for purchase online, so you can buy up really nice pieces and skip over some of the high fees that a gallery takes.”
Mixed + New Media
For an interesting combination of mixed and new media, Pomares likes Galerie Perrie, which was founded in 2021 by Gabé Hirschowitz. “This site is a wonderful go-to as there are always fresh and exciting pieces by a wide range of contemporary artists at a variety of price points for a collector,” she says. Duffy respects the logic of artist Mat Gasparek’s Flat Rate Contemporary for emerging artists’ works since “the parameter is that they must fit in a UPS flat-rate envelope. It very much follows in the tradition of other mail art projects, from Charles White to Ray Johnson.” And Swopes encourages due diligence for digital. “Some art may seem pretty, but it may be stolen,” she warns with a laugh. “So do your research.”
