NEW YORK, NY.- Artsy today announced the launch of the Artsy App for iPhone and iPod touch, furthering its mission to make all the worlds art accessible to anyone with an Internet connection. Developed by Artsy designers and engineers as a mobile extension of Artsy.net, the app was made to transform how we may discover, learn, share and buy artwork currently on view at leading galleries, art fairs and museums around the globe. The Artsy App is available exclusively on the App Store and is free to download.
The app is updated daily and already contains more than 50,000 high-resolution images of contemporary and historical artworks from over 600 leading galleries, art fairs, museums, private collections, foundations, and artists estates in 50 countries, including the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, SFMOMA, the British Museum, Gagosian Gallery, Pace Gallery, White Cube and Victoria Miro. This database contains works that are available for purchase, in addition to works in museum exhibitions and permanent collections, spanning a wide range of cultures and time periods from old masters such as Monet and Botticelli to important contemporary works by leading artists such as Cindy Sherman, Jeff Koons and Ai Weiwei. It is the first time such a large selection of artworks from world-renowned institutions have been made available to the public all in one place, and at zoom capabilities so high that individual brushstrokes are visible to the naked eye.
Users of the Artsy App may explore the latest happenings across the art world including exhibitions and art fairs, and inquire about or purchase artwork available to collect with the tap of a finger. Its now possible to virtually visit the most important art fairs including Art Rio in South America, The Armory Show in New York, Frieze in London and Art Basel in Europe from one go-to mobile application.
For those interested in collecting, an Artsy personal advisor is always available to assist beginners as well as seasoned buyers via the app. Artsys advisory and specialist teams were trained at top galleries and auction houses such as Christies and Sothebys and provide individualized support catered to each user.
The Artsy App is powered by Artsys The Art Genome Projectan ongoing study to map the characteristics (known as genes) that connect the worlds artists and artworks. It provides pathways for discovery and education for experts and non-experts alike, through which Artsy hopes to foster new generations of art lovers, museum-goers, collectors and patrons. There are over 500 genes including art-historical movements, subject matter and formal qualities. Artsy is proud to partner with 400+ leading galleries as well as 100+ museums and foundations on the project.
The app was designed to take advantage of user interface elements of iOS 7. For example, the Artsy Apps View in Room feature utilizes Parallax, via which a user may turn the iPhone or iPod touch sideways to view a 2-D artwork to scale in a rendered gallery setting. The overall design of the Artsy App is closely aligned with iOS 7s simple yet elegant visual language, providing an immersive and intuitive browsing experience focused entirely on the work of art.
"Digital platforms like Artsy are critical to engaging diverse, international audiences. Our collections, programs and exhibitions are increasingly being discovered through iPhone and other mobile technologies so it is vital to the museum's educational mission to be accessible through as many channels as possible," says Maxwell L. Anderson, The Eugene McDermott Director, Dallas Museum of Artone of the world's leading art museums which, in an effort to increase public access, recently made possible free admission for all visitors.
Larry Gagosian, the founder and owner of his namesake contemporary gallery and an Artsy advisor, says, "As evidenced by the boom in international art fairs, the art market is becoming increasingly globalized, with gallerists traveling the world to meet collectors. In this environment, the Artsy platform is an important way to reach the global collector base, and the iPhone and iPod touch app takes it to another level, putting unprecedented access to leading gallery, fair, and museum shows in the pocket of every collector."
"Since our gallery was established in 1969, the art world has significantly changed. New, progressive technology has increased the tempo of the industry and now information can be accessed at the tap of a finger. The new iPhone and iPod touch app enables access to what is available on the market for everyone. Most importantly Artsy embraces developments in communication without compromising quality," says Robert Delaney, Director at Bernard Jacobson Gallery, a leading dealer in modern art with locations in London and New York.
Carter Cleveland, Founder and CEO of Artsy, says, "At Artsy we're developing the most technically-advanced, sophisticated and beautiful means for everyone to access art. Mobile technology is a critical step in that direction--especially as collectors and art enthusiasts are spending less time sitting in front of computers and more time on the run. Given this, we're excited to announce the Artsy iPhone and iPod touch App, making it possible to browse the world's top artists, galleries, museums, and art fairsall from a device that fits in your pocket."
The Artsy App is available for free from the App Store on iPhone and iPod touch or at
www.AppStore.com/Artsy.
Artsy is an online platform for discovering, learning about and collecting art via cutting-edge technology. Artsy is built by world-class engineers and designers in collaboration with leading arts professionals. Artsy has created one of the largest online collections of contemporary art and is powered by The Art Genome Project. Artsy partners with 400+ renowned galleries and 100+ museums and foundations around the globe. Artsy launched publicly in October 2012 and since has grown to over 150,000 registered users, serving over 100 million artwork impressions to an international audience across 180+ countries. Artsy will continue to grow by adding new artwork and developing new technology. Since its launch, Artsy has introduced significant new features including partnerships with leading art fairs, ecommerce payment processing, and the ability for enthusiasts and experts alike to contribute insights and anecdotes, through posts, about the 50,000+ artworks on the site. By bringing together art, science, design and engineering, Artsy aims to foster new generations of art lovers, museum goers, collectors and patrons.