For years, art collecting seemed out of the average person’s reach. Not only was it seen as a hobby only for the wealthy, but the aura of exclusivity that hung over the art world scared many people off.
“Until then, access to art was very much controlled by specific gate keepers in the industry,” says Emily McInnes, founder of Eye Buy Art, a Toronto-based online gallery and art consultancy. “When I launched the business in 2009 there were many naysayers who said, ‘You can’t sell art this way, it’s not how it’s done.’ Then you fast-forward to the pandemic, everyone is at home with time on their hands and looking at their walls. It was a watershed moment for the digital art world.
“Online has been a great equalizer for purchasers and artists alike,” says Ashley Mulvihill, founder of online gallery Ninth Editions, which specializes in contemporary emerging artists. “It allows us to offer more approachable pricing because we don’t have the overhead that brick-and-mortar galleries do. Prices are less opaque because most sites put the cost of a piece right out front, even separating art into categories of under $250 or over $1,000.
With more and more online platforms entering the market, we asked five Canadian artists to share their thoughts on how the digital art space has expanded their reach, opened doors and empowered their careers.Midnight, 10 by 12 inches, $2,000 through Unit 17 and Peggy.Many of Nadya Isabella’s paintings are inspired by her own experiences; they feature everything from animals to pop culture to the rituals of the everyday.