How the internet is transforming the art world

It's easier than ever for artists to display their work online. But that comes with some downsides.

Dealing art online.

These days, selling your art online is easy. Online art galleries, freelance platforms, digital stores, and other websites help connect artists to potential buyers. From watercolor pictures of squirrels to geometric patterns of maple leaves, there is a growing demand for original artwork in the digital space. However, the commercialization and dilution of art online is leading to new debates about the meaning and future of fine art.

In 2016, online sales of art totaled $3.27 billion. This figure comes from an annual report compiled by TEFAF, but it only includes data from art sales databases, dealers, collectors, and auctioneers. So while the report shows significant growth in the art industry online, it's still missing key parts. For example, sales from personal websites, individual artists, and some online platforms such as Etsy are missing.

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Lana Bandoim

Lana Bandoim is a freelance writer and editor. Her work has appeared on Yahoo! News, CNN iReport, The Huffington Post, Lifescript, Healthline, and many other publications.