“I always ask my pool of interior designers and architects to give me one wall for the art. I believe that if every designer or architect practices this, it is going to be a great boost for the artist community in India”, opines Geeta. Unlike other websites, the company uses a personalized approach, through which the team conducts studio visits and holds around three meetings with the artists to understand their practice and their reasons to pursue their artistic interests.

The team analyzes the discipline and precision of their creation, assessing the strokes, the techniques, and the fineness, before selecting an artwork. You.Art also requests its artists to use sustainable products, including natural pigments, composition, materials, or techniques. Until today, the company has onboarded around 100 Indian contemporary artists and has launched 8 curations online, along with hosting occasional physical exhibitions.

For a Seamless User Experience

To simplify the whole compelling yet perplexing journey of virtual art consumption and selection, the founders have introduced various advanced technological features in You.Art. Firstly, the website’s search bar allows the users to quickly find what they are seeking from the available collections. Its virtual gallery, on the other hand, simulates the physical art galleries by delivering a vivid and immersive experience for the users. Powered by augmented reality (AR), the functionality allows them to download and preview an artwork and determine if it matches their walls in terms of color, size, prints, and other specifications. Every artwork is complimented with a link that gives access to the artists and their principles, practices, and stories behind their masterpieces.

Emphasizing its commitment to authenticity and security, the platform has integrated blockchain technology and issues a Tagsmart provenance certificate for any purchase over Rs.50000. This will automatically get updated anytime artworks are sold, documenting the journey of that specific piece. It is also an added advantage for the artists that helps them evaluate their career growth. Additionally, You.Art employs a meticulous process to guarantee efficiency right from the point of sale to delivery of an artwork. Once the selected artwork is procured from the artists, it undergoes a thorough quality check, careful packaging, and safe shipping, be it within or outside India. Besides easy payment gateways, the users can also avail of festival offers.

Sculpting the Future Pathway

For any startup, thriving and promoting a noble cause with limited funding is not easy. But it is particularly Herculean effort for a boot-strapped venture like You.Art. “Right now, we are amassing the resources and energy available to build the curations on the website and offer a selection of several thousand artworks to the users”, shares Geeta. The company also seeks to expand its offerings to include sculptures, installations, and collectibles. Considering the number of consumers who still prefer physical galleries and experiences, the company is planning to launch an offline space for hosting shows.

Eyeing at foraying into auction markets, the venture is also looking forward to participating in reputed art fairs, exhibitions, and shows across the country. Being a part of the evolving landscape, You.Art envisions to be the largest platform, bringing promising contemporary artists to the fore and introducing their creations to different parts of the world.