Two gentlemen were walking down Green Path in search of a painting. As Janaka Perera shared, “Usually, Green Path is a place where you could find artwork of local street artists. But it was a gloomy and drizzling day and we could only find one artist who was selling his artwork from the back of a van.”
This artist made his living by selling his paintings on the street, relying mostly on tourism. After this encounter, Perera—who has years of experience in business administration and marketing—identified a dire need in the Sri Lankan market for a proper platform for local artists to sell their work. With the pressures of marketing and selling their art, artists were not able to focus solely on their craft. This was the inspiration that led him to initiate Aartzy, an e-commerce platform that sells paintings, sculptures, and digital prints—bridging the gap between artists and buyers.
For instance, as a business currently based in Canada, it was able to win the “Art Store of the Year” award for 2020 / 2021
First and foremost, it is not just an online platform that provides opportunities to sell artwork—it also creates an international identity for artists, generating global recognition for their work. According to Perera, Managing Director of Aartzy, the international art market is valued at 73 billion USD, and the online segment alone exceeds 1 billion USD. Through this platform, Sri Lankan artists gain access to this vast market without depending solely on tourism or limited local gallery spaces.
Given the nature of the global art market, reliability and credibility are crucial. It has been two and a half years since Aartzy’s initiation, with one and a half years of successful online operation. Although relatively young, Aartzy has already gained international recognition. For example, it won the “Art Store of the Year” 2020 / 2021 from The Corporate Livewire Canada Prestige Awards, which recognizes outstanding small and medium-scale businesses in Canada.
It has been two and a half years since the initiation of Aartzy and it has successfully operated online for one and a half years
Thanks to this recognition, many internationally based artists have approached Aartzy to display their work. While they are welcome, Perera notes that Sri Lankan artists remain the top priority. “Creating art and improving their work should be the artist’s focus,” he says. “Selling and marketing should be left to professionals who can ensure success.”
When asked how artists can join and benefit from this network, Perera explained: “It’s a simple process via www.aartzy.com. Artists can register on the website, send an email, or contact us via WhatsApp. Then, an Aartzy representative will explain the procedure and formalize the partnership with a contract that protects both parties.”
Many internationally based artists have approached Aartzy to display their art work
After registration, the artist provides a short bio, high-quality images of their artwork, details of sizes and materials, and other key information. Aartzy handles the processing, pricing, and full marketing operations from there.
Perera mentioned that Aartzy charges only 18 % commission—either added to or subtracted from the final price—making it a far more profitable arrangement for artists compared to galleries or other online platforms that typically take higher percentages.
Once registered, each artist receives a personalized portfolio on the Aartzy platform, showcasing their artwork and profile. This portfolio can be used elsewhere to strengthen their digital presence and international recognition.
The journey so far has been challenging, especially in the beginning when convincing local artists to come on board. However, Aartzy has established itself as a reliable and effective e-commerce platform that offers strong value to artists and customers alike. With deep local roots and a futuristic vision, Aartzy continues to create opportunities for Sri Lankan artists that extend far beyond local borders.
As Salvador Dali once said, “A true artist is not one who is inspired, but one who inspires others.” If an organization can take on the marketing responsibilities in the global market, artists will have more time to create meaningful, inspiring work. Thanks to initiatives like Aartzy, the days of artists struggling to sell their work on the streets may soon be over.
The complete article can be found at http://www.dailymirror.lk/news-features/Aartzy-offers-futuristic-platform-for-artists/131-204340
-Sandaru Diwakara
