Artnet
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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artnet is an online service provider for the international art market with headquarters in New York, Berlin and Paris. Additionally, artnet has regional offices in China, the UK and Russia.
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Business model
artnet is an information platform for the international art market, including fine arts, decorative arts and design. It provides services allowing its clients to attain price transparency, giving them an effective overview of the art market and enabling them to contact galleries directly. The network caters specifically to art dealers, as well as buyers.
Services
The primary service of this business is the artnet Price Database. The artnet Fine Art and Design Price Database and the artnet Decorative Art Price Database currently contain 4 million auction sale results since 1985 from over 500 international auction houses. Market value and long-term price developments of artworks can be researched online.
An additional key product is the artnet online Gallery Network, consisting of more than 2,200 international galleries worldwide. Collectors are able to search by artist, movement and medium and can contact sellers directly. This service is free of charge for collectors while galleries pay a monthly fee.
This range of services is completed by an independent online art magazine, alerts by email of newly available artworks, online auctions, a digital library of artist works catalogues, and an international exhibition calendar, among other services.
History
1989–1995
artnet was founded in 1989 by Pierre Sernet as Centrox Corporation and subsequently changed its name to Artnet in 1995. A group of investors mostly Venture Capitalists and art professionals, including Hans Neuendorf, came on board in May 1990. The company’s initial product was an illustrated auction records database accessible via fax, proprietary software and dial-up connection, providing a quick market overview for collectors and dealers. Hans Neuendorf, one of artnet’s founders and a former gallery owner himself, was made CEO in 1995.
1996–2006
In 1996, data migration of the artnet Price Database to the internet was completed allowing this online platform to be searchable from anywhere. Since then, the artnet Gallery Network, artnet Magazine and additional information services have comprised a website which is essential to collectors, sellers and art aficionados alike.
artnet Worldwide is a wholly owned subsidiary of artnet AG, which was incorporated as artnet.com AG in 1998 in Germany. In 1999, artnet.com AG went public on the Neuer Markt at the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. The name of the company was officially changed to artnet AG in 2002. In October that year, artnet AG left the Neuer Markt and has since been listed in the General Standard at the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, a segment of the EU-regulated Geregelter Markt.
In 2004, artnet launched its German website, artnet.de, which includes a German language magazine.
2007–present
As of February 1, 2007, artnet AG has been included in the Prime Standard of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. In 2008, artnet launched fine art online auctions in a move to provide the advantages of the internet to an international audience. Effectively lowering transaction costs and turn-around time in comparison to traditional auction houses, artnet evolves as a transaction platform creating increased liquidity in the art market.
In October 2008, artnet’s French website, artnet.fr, went online. It also includes a French language magazine which offers a critical overview of the French art market.
In addition to its English newsletter, artnet has offered a German monthly newsletter since October 2008. This service is free to the public and provides its readers with news about artists, galleries, art fairs, auctions and other art events with a focus on the German art market.
In February 2009, artnet’s new database Price Database: Decorative Art went online. It contains auction sale results of antiques from furniture and silver to rugs and clocks since 2002.
Artnet Magazine contributors
- Alexandra Anderson-Spivy
- Michèle C. Cone
- Ben Davis
- Hunter Drohojowska-Philp
- Charlie Finch
- Thomas Hoving
- Laura K. Jones
- N. F. Karlins
- Elisabeth Kley
- Mark Kostabi
- Donald Kuspit
- Brook S. Mason
- Steve Mumford
- Reverend Jen
- Walter Robinson, editor
- Jerry Saltz
Collaboration
In 2004, artnet and the international auction house Sotheby’s began their collaboration.
In 2007, the close collaboration between artnet and Art Basel/ Art Basel Miami Beach started.
Clients
artnet’s clients include private collectors, galleries, appraisers, museums, auctioneers, insurance companies and government agencies such as the IRS and the FBI.
