Nigerian startup and  online art gallery Artyrama has launched to host curated online art exhibitions and auctions, giving art lovers the opportunity to appreciate, enjoy and buy art (paintings, photography, sculptures and other media online) from the comfort of their own homes with assurance that the quality of the work is good and genuine.

Artyrama also sources and curate the finest art from all over Africa, bridging the gap between art lovers and exquisite art at affordable prices.

The online art gallery intends to give talented young artists a platform to sell their works, while introducing a new generation of collectors to the growing excitement around contemporary African art.

The art startup is also committed to giving artworks of African origins a global stage to promote the development of art and culture in Africa but more importantly to showcase the amazing talent that exists on the continent. Hence, Artyrama aims to be a powerful showcase of this talent- highlighting the relevance of African art and artists to the world.

“It doesn’t have to be pretentious,” says Artyrama director Lanre Fisher, who comes from a family of avid art collectors.

Fisher, a business consultant had observed with a group of collectors the art world’s growing interest in African contemporary art.

According to Fisher, the buzz around African art has trickled down from the world’s well known auction houses like Bonhams to smaller buyers around the world, looking for more affordable pieces they hope will turn into an investment later.

Most of Artyrama’s customer base are collectors outside the continent, shipping to France and Poland.

“In the environment that we’re in, the past 12 to 24 months, everything about Africa at the moment is kind of cool,” says Funmi Daniel, Artyrama’s general manager who previously worked with e-commerce site Jumia.

Based in Lagos, Artyrama does enter the physical art world every few months with curated shows and exhibitions. As the business grows, they hope to sell more within the continent. In the business for six months, they’ve focused on secure payments and reliable delivery but hope to introduce virtual reality to foster trust among online shoppers.

Having an ecommerce site doesn’t exempt Artyrama from the grinding bureaucracy of doing business in Nigeria as reported by Quartz Africa. Any art that is exported from the country can’t leave without certification from the National Museum, explains Daniel. So Artyrama staffers have to take each painting to the gallery where it must be evaluated so they and other exporters have to pay a percentage based on that valuation.

Purchased art works are shipped directly to the customer enabling a seamless and stress free process from start to finish. Artyrama also provides advisory services for individuals or organizations who want to buy and sell art, leveraging their combined 100 year experience in the African art market, with a focus on contemporary art. As the African contemporary market grows, collectors need to be sure that they’re making the right choice. Artyrama’s advisory services help to simplify the process of acquiring great pieces clients will enjoy for years to come.

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