161) Art Democratization

In the past, the art/design industry has been made up of galleries and dealers selling enormously expensive pieces to the select few who can afford them. But lately, I've been seeing more and more of examples of art democratization. This movement is thanks to one part rethinking/rebellious spirit, and three parts the wonder that is the Internet. Here are a couple of my favorite examples.


To benefit a trifecta of artists, consumers, and charity, Edition One Hundred has flipped the old model on its head. The site curates online art exhibits, selling 100 limited edition prints of each piece for $100 a pop. Ten percent of each sale goes to a cause/charity of the artist's choice, infusing the artwork with deeper meaning.

In their own words:
"Edition One Hundred was born of this new era, with a mission to restore the economic power to the artists and the collectors themselves, while giving a percentage of all sales to charitable causes greater than ourselves. Edition One Hundred makes the collection of art a call to action, an act of commercial integrity, and, most simply put, a pure joy."



The second is TurningArt, which can only be described as Netflix for art. For a low monthly fee, TurningArt allows you to select and rotate pieces of art for your walls at a frequency of your choosing. With a huge selection of prints, free shipping, and included frames, the site makes it easy to enjoy a museum-like rotation of art. Fall in love with a piece? Every dollar spent earns you credit towards the purchase of an original work of art.