UGallery.com
'Rooftop' 2006
*note: this article was published in the first issue of the aforementioned ISO magazine
You might find it worrisome to learn that there are more than 20,000 college students graduating each year with degrees in photography. Based on the ever-looming laws of natural selection, you may feel as if one place your work will rarely, if ever, land is on a gallery wall — unless it is a virtual one. In many ways the Internet has tremendously expanded the photographer’s ability to connect with other artists and the general population. Your work can be thrust under anyone’s nose through the use of blogs, portfolios, and forums. UGallery.com is no exception.
This website was created with the goal to provide art students a market for their work. Branded as a place to find affordable artwork, you won’t be selling for outrageous prices, but you will be getting your work out to the public. And in this economic climate, more and more collectors and casual buyers are turning towards the Internet to find better deals on quality art.
So how does it work? To begin, you apply with a sample portfolio and fill out a questionnaire with an artist statement. While their acceptance rate rests right around 25%, there are most notably a large number of submissions of amateur work. Once contacted and accepted, you may begin posting images to your profile. Each image is reviewed by the UGallery staff and then made available for purchase. The minimum size for prints is set at 12” x 18.” It is also important to note that, like most galleries, they receive 50% of the profit. One of the more formal aspects of submitting to UGallery is the upkeep required for their 48-hour guarantee, as the website promises their customers that the image will be printed and shipped off within 48 hours of purchase. This means if you are out of town or unavailable to print and ship the image, you must post a note ahead of time. Although the staff is helpful and understanding of the busy college schedule, they expect a professional relationship when handling sales.
'Pine Island' 2006
Additionally, the website is somewhat hindered by the plethora of artworks exhibited. There are a few ways they attempt to remedy this, most extensively through the use of filters. Using these search options, you can sift through artwork based on anything from color to school to genre. Perhaps the most interesting aspect of the purchasing process is the “virtual wall” – this little widget allows the customer to view and arrange the artwork on an imaginary wall rendered in your browser. You can change the colors of the wall and floor to match your own while resizing the work and positioning the furniture. Although the virtual wall is a rather disappointing replacement for a gallery wall in Chelsea, it’s better than shoving your prints into a box and leaving them under your bed.
Over the past few years UGallery has grown from a fledgling business into a solid presence, receiving constant and increasing press. Fortunately, as they grow in popularity and recognition, so does the potential for your work. Throughout the year the gallery participates in art and design fairs across the country. Last year, at the ART NOW Fair in Manhattan, UGallery held a room amongst gallery spaces from New York to Sweden. If you are one of the top sellers, there is a good chance the site will exhibit your work in these venues, transforming from virtual into real space. In the end there is nothing to lose by joining with UGallery, so don’t hesitate to jump into cyberspace and pull ahead of your 20,000 competitors.
Michael George :: Dec.26.2008 :: Art, Miscellaneous, My Photography :: No Comments »
