UGallery

UGallery is a curated online art gallery headquartered in San Francisco. Founded in 2006, UGallery is an e-commerce platform that connects artists directly with collectors on its website. The company positions itself as an approachable and convenient alternative to the brick-and-mortar contemporary art gallery.[1]

UGallery
Private company
Industry
Founded 2006
Founder Stephen Tanenbaum, Alex Farkas, Greg Rosborough
Headquarters San Francisco, CA
Area served
 Worldwide
Products Original Artwork
Website www.ugallery.com
"It All Comes Together" by UGallery artist Elena Baker. Photo credit.

History

The company was founded by Alex Farkas, Stephen Tanenbaum and Greg Rosborough.[2] The three met in a business class at the University of Arizona. Sharing an interest in the arts, they developed the concept for UGallery through the McGuire Entrepreneurship Program.[3] The UGallery.com website launched in September 2006.[4]

Originally seen as a way to help recent art school graduates find buyers, UGallery began with five artists and 25 pieces of original art.[5] Securing outside capital in 2008,[6] the company shifted its focus to mid-career and emerging artists from around the world.[5]

As of February 2014, UGallery exhibits the work of 500 professional artists and more than 6,500 pieces of original paintings, fine-art photography, drawings and sculptures.[7] The company counts clients in every U.S. state and over 45 countries,[8] as well as 1.7 million social followers.[9][10][11][12]

Artist Jennifer Hannaford packs her sold artwork in a UGallery delivery box.

Reception

UGallery was an early entrant to the business of selling original art online.[13] At the time, many art critics questioned the concept. A 2007 Wall Street Journal article called "the online art marketplace as mottled as a Monet water scene."[14] By 2012, the online art market was valued at $870 million.[15] In 2014, the estimated value of the online art market grew to $2.64 billion, accounting for 4.8% of the estimated $55.2 billion value of the global art market.[16]

Recognition

In 2011, The Economist called UGallery "unintimidating enough to encourage a new generation of collectors."[17] In 2013, VentureBeat wrote that UGallery's e-commerce platform is "democratizing the art world."[18] The same year, Internet Retailer named UGallery to their Second 500 Guide,[19] and in 2015, named UGallery the top luxury e-retailer for artwork.[20]

References

  1. ↑ "New study: many find buying art more intimidating than buying real estate". Private Art Investor. Retrieved 2015-11-13.
  2. ↑ "College Business Plans that Made the Grade". Entrepreneur. Retrieved 2015-11-13.
  3. ↑ "McGuire Program grad UGallery continues to connect people and art". McGuire Center for Entrepreneurship. Retrieved 2015-11-13.
  4. ↑ "Get Schooled". Entrepreneur. Retrieved 2015-11-13.
  5. 1 2 "A Conversation With UGallery Co-Founders Alex Farkas and Stephen Tanenbaum". Forbes. Retrieved 2015-11-13.
  6. ↑ "Ugallery Funding & Ugallery Investors – CB Insights". www.cbinsights.com. Retrieved 2015-11-13.
  7. ↑ "Fine art moves from gallery to the Web". www.mercurynews.com. Retrieved 2015-11-13.
  8. ↑ "Stephen Tanenbaum, small business expert, on small business radio program, The Small Business Advocate Show". www.smallbusinessadvocate.com. Retrieved 2015-11-13.
  9. ↑ "UGallery (ugallery)". Pinterest. Retrieved 2015-11-13.
  10. ↑ "UGallery.com". facebook.com. Retrieved 2015-11-13.
  11. ↑ "UGallery (@UGallery) | Twitter". twitter.com. Retrieved 2015-11-13.
  12. ↑ "UGallery (@ugallery) • Instagram photos and videos". instagram.com. Retrieved 2015-11-13.
  13. ↑ UTC, Patric Herber2007-09-19 02:37:17. "Artist's Toolbox: 30+ Places to Promote Your Art". Mashable. Retrieved 2015-11-13.
  14. ↑ Crow, Kelly. "A Work in Progress: Buying Art on the Web". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved 2015-11-13.
  15. ↑ "Hiscox Report: Online Art Trade 2013". www.arttactic.com. Retrieved 2015-11-13.
  16. ↑ "Hiscox Online Art Trade Report 2015". www.arttactic.com. Retrieved 2015-11-13.
  17. ↑ "Clicking your way to an art collection". The Economist. ISSN 0013-0613. Retrieved 2015-11-13.
  18. ↑ "UGallery hits growth milestones as art sales move online (exclusive)". VentureBeat. Retrieved 2015-11-13.
  19. ↑ Zaroban, Stefany. "Social media and unique products drive sales growth at UGallery". Retrieved 2015-11-13.
  20. ↑ "Luxury on the Web: Exclusive Rankings, Data and Analysis of the World's Largest Luxury E-Retailers" (PDF). Internet Retailer.
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