We’re all glued to our phones these days, so it should come as no surprise that the most enterprising gallerists out there are turning to social messaging apps like WhatsApp to connect with their clients and make sales. With our phones glued to our hands, a sale is really just moments away when it’s being made by an app. Want to know what these platforms are? Let us tell you!
La Pera Projects
La Pera Projects is a digital curatorial platform with a Collectors Circle of over 4,000 from 25 countries on WhatsApp. Every two weeks they highlight both emerging and established artists, introducing their practice and offering a selection of works under $600. The bilingual project – English and Spanish – was born with the aim of bringing contemporary art closer to the general public and promoting the culture of art and collecting. And, despite being a digital platform at its core, La Pera Projects have recently partnered with NeueHouse, Zona Maco, Urvanity Art, among others, on physical events to promote the culture of art collecting.
Emergeast
Emergeast is a digital gallery that has been championing emerging and mid-career artists from the Middle East and North Africa for more than six years. In addition to their online platform, Emergeast also uses WhatsApp to connect with its collectors. “Having a friendly relationship with clients on WhatsApp forms trust and intimacy, two things we value the most at Emergeast!”, says co-founder Nikki Meftah, “It’s also crucial for young collectors to know they can directly reach someone in a safe and comfortable space for their inquiries.”
Galeria SGR
Colombian gallery SGR only opened last year and word has it they’ve been sending weekly presentations of their artist roster via WhatsApp. This novel way of offering special offers that are valid for one day only sounds super exciting!
The Gallery Climate Coalition
While not a gallery per se, The Gallery Climate Coalition is an international initiative facilitating a greener and more sustainable art world. As part of its mission, the coalition provides advice to galleries on how to better protect the planet and advocates using messaging services like WhatsApp as opposed to email – which uses substantially more energy – as these apps have a comparatively negligible environmental impact.
Denny Dimin Gallery
Based between New York and Hong Kong, Denny Dimin Gallery also connects with its clients via WeChat, touching base with its clients in a whole new way. We’re so intrigued by what the new app experience might offer!
One Off Gallery
Nairobi’s One Off Gallery recently hosted an art auction for charity via WhatsApp. I mean, who needs an auction house when you’ve got a smartphone?! From the gallery’s website it seems like the sale was a big success, suggesting that there may be more WhatsApp gallery activity soon!
Text Lizzy Vartanian
