Recently EMERGE learned about Artocracy, a website which is reimaging the notion of the online gallery and what it means to buy art. Combining a service like Kodak Easyshare, which allows you to prevew and purchase traditional-style photo prints online, and the curatorial perspective of a traditional art gallery, Artocracy is a potentially tremendous platform for artists lacking the appropriate address or social chops to get ahead in a scene dominated by king-making gallerists and collectors, expensive art fairs, and exclusive openings. Bestest of all, founder Megan Murphy has kept everything low-cost and simple to use, ensuring that her site will help the would-be art collector find some interesting work and make it their own without requiring a mortgage or one of those pesky art advisors (free registrations required) to get you that post-grafitti Pop Art masterpiece for your live/work loft.

Artocracy is certainly a work in progress and there is a definite need for a greater breadth and depth of art to choose from as well as some options for buyers and sellers interested in works that don't fit through an inkjet Sselling only digital art, Artocracy will either sell a PDF download for the buyer to print as they see fit or can provide a print direct for a small premium. That said, there is a pretty interesting assortment of work already on display and submissions and excitement about the site continue to pour in. To learn a bit more, EMERGE asked Ms. Murphy some questions and here's what she said:

Where did the idea for Artocracy come from?

Artocracy started as an idea to help my friends that wanted to live with art, but could not afford one-of-a-kind pieces, be able to purchase, support, and live with art. I thought that if the multiples were good, and the money went to supporting the artists one-of-a-kind works, it would be a win/win for everyone. So I started the site with two artists and word spread around. Currently I receive about 100 submissions to the site a month, and only take a couple of them at a time.

You invite submissions on the website. Have you undertaken any additional efforts to accumulate artwork for the site/service?

I take submissions to the site and email artists whose work I am interested in. I am planning on expanding that idea on the new website which will launch early next year. I am working on expanding the artists work and the categories on the site.

How have you been spreading the word about Artocracy?

I spread the word about Artocracy primarily through press releases, some online advertising, and a lot of press kits. Artocracy is self funded, so I do not have huge advertising budget, I am running a grass roots campaign.

Have you had any dialogue about the nature of Artocracy with gallerists or artists accustomed to showing in conventional galleries? What have their responses been to this project?

I have had positive responses from most galleries because they understand how hard it is for artists. Artocracy works for artists and for galleries because I am getting a different demographic interested in the arts, and developing them as collectors. Hopefully they will begin to purchase one-of-a-kind pieces along with their Artocracy prints. I personally really support galleries and show my work at different ones. Artocracy does not compete with what they are doing, we are in such different areas.

How do you envision Artocracy growing/changing? Are there additional services you hope to roll out in the near future?

Artocracy is going through a growth stage right now. With the launch of companies like Imagekind, it allows Artocracy to become more specialized and refine our mission. Currently the site is being redesigned with some great new features and ways we are going to be supporting the arts. 2x4, a brilliant design firm in New York, is doing the work and they are amazing. I am very fortunate to be able to work with them.


TO LEARN MORE VISIT Artocracy OR CLICK here FOR PRESS CLIPPINGS

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