Problem of the Artist
Today, many creatives are celebrated and selling artwork regularly, but can still barely pay their own rent. Many emerging artists take on second careers to support their personal art endeavors. Many of these highly creative artists have the skills and creativity to design alternative objects, but:
1. are not able to sell these goods on any open online marketplace (such eBay or Etsy) without lowering the market value of his/her art
2. are not able to sell on furniture resale online markets (such as 1stDibs or One Kings Lane) as they are reserved for antiques and designer objects sold only by licensed designers, dealers, or antique retailers
3. are not able to sell alternative art objects by way of art galleries as they only represent artists using traditional art mediums
4. are not able to sell on other online sites that sell “artist goods” because most focus on low-budget items, such as mugs or T-shirts or phone cases and scarves, which will absolutely depreciate the aesthetic value of his/her brand/artistic value.
Problem of the Consumer
People want their homes filled with stories. Their homes are a reflection of status and style. Your home is a mirror of yourself. And people want it to reflect their style and personality. Many people cannot afford original works of art with traditional mediums such as an oil painting, but could afford a limited edition object that reflects their love of art and design. In the United States, savvy consumers who love art and design are tired of big box retailers and mass-produced wares from retail design stores such as Restoration Hardware, West Elm, Pottery Barn, Zara Home, H&M Home, etc.
Meaningful Endeavor
I would like to give emerging artists another revenue stream as well as global marketing exposure by finding alternate ways to sell their creativity with the world. I would like to make art accessible to new consumers and new markets, targeting aspirational art collectors and design enthusiasts.
If I was assured success, I would set up a residency program for artists working out of their comfort zone with different mediums to bring their creativity to the gift, lifestyle, and interior design markets. I would create a (possibly rotating) residency that created product lines to present in high-end home design and gift trade shows as a carefully branded cooperative residency with artists and producers/ manufacturers. This would allow artists to enter into the home goods and gift market without reducing the value of their artwork with careful curation/collaborations and highly thoughtful production practices.