ArtPlacer at the Affordable Art Fair 2024: Empowering Galleries and Elevating Art Sales

ArtPlacer’s collaboration with the Affordable Art Fair NYC Fall Edition stemmed from a shared vision: making art more accessible and helping galleries and artists expand their reach. The partnership was born from a conversation just a few months ago, where both teams realized they had aligned values around enhancing how art is experienced and acquired.

At ArtPlacer we were eager to bring digital engagement to the forefront of the Affordable Art Fair NYC, helping galleries present their work in innovative ways and empowering art buyers to make informed, confident art-buying decisions.

Example of a Personal Space created at the Art Wall Advisory session.

Empowering art sales through personalized visualization and interaction

At the core of ArtPlacer’s mission is the idea that art-buying should be fun and personalized. Our Personal Spaces tool allows galleries to create to-scale mockups of their art in their potential buyer’s home, complete with digital frames and mats for a realistic preview. Which is fundamental to help collectors envision how the pieces will look once hung.

During the fair, attendees could book Art Wall Advisory Sessions, where they brought photos of their homes and received expert guidance on how specific pieces they loved would look in their spaces. This hands-on approach gave collectors the confidence to make purchasing decisions, knowing the art they chose would fit beautifully into their environments.

We had over 20 sessions during the weekend, which included not only visitors to the fair but also exhibiting artists, gallerists, and ArtPlacer users who came by to say hi. The strategic advisory sessions conducted with collectors had an impressive 60% sales rate, with 6 out of every 10 sessions resulting in a sale.

These sessions provided valuable insights into the needs and experiences of our visitors. Some, like a young woman looking for artwork for her bedroom and living room, initially sought a horizontal piece but found only square options from the artist she was interested in. Wanting to see how a square piece would look in her space, she came to the session, loved the digital preview, and bought the piece.

Others, like a couple buying their first original artwork, realized how beautifully two pieces complemented each other once visualized in their home, leading them to purchase both. Another group explored multiple galleries and artwork in the “C” section of the fair and left with a marked floor plan to revisit the pieces they liked.

Take a look at “The Inner Spirit Quest” route guide.

Enhancing Exhibitor support with Premium ArtPlacer accounts

ArtPlacer provided complimentary two-month premium accounts to all participating galleries. This allowed exhibitors to use ArtPlacer’s full suite of tools, including Room Mockups and Online Portfolios, to optimize their presentations at the fair and beyond.

We were also thrilled to offer one-year premium accounts to the three fellows selected for this year’s Affordable Art Fair: SHEER, Harsh Collective, and Eleventh Hour. 

These fellows will now have ongoing access to digital marketing tools that will help them enhance their art business with interactive experiences, long after the fair has concluded.

We didn’t stop at providing digital tools; ArtPlacer also offered educational resources through ArtPlacer Academy. For the Affordable Art Fair exhibitors, we curated a special guide and marketing checklist, outlining key steps for preparing for a successful show. This checklist included actionable advice on website updates, creating buzz on social media, writing compelling project statements, and leveraging marketing assets to boost gallery visibility.

To further support exhibitors, ArtPlacer hosted weekly live sessions where galleries could ask questions and receive tailored guidance on how to make the most of their time at the fair.

Online portfolio and lead-generation forms accessible via QR form as seen on Melhop’s Gallery art fair booth.

Bringing digital to the booth: online portfolios, and lead generation

The Affordable Art Fair exhibitors embraced the digital experience through QR codes that linked visitors directly to their Online Portfolios. This allowed potential buyers to explore full collections and learn more about the artists, even outside of the booth. A total of 14 galleries chose to use this technology, enhancing their visibility and engaging visitors beyond the physical space.

Additionally, ArtPlacer supported galleries with “Get in touch” or lead generation forms tthat were accessible via QR code or link. These forms proved instrumental in capturing visitor data, helping galleries expand their contact lists, and creating new leads for future engagement. By blending physical art with digital touchpoints, galleries maximized their exposure and built stronger connections with potential buyers.

Affordable Art Fair Route Guide as a Virtual Exhibition.

Curated Experiences: route guides and fair director’s picks

ArtPlacer brought a fresh twist to the Affordable Art Fair’s beloved Route Guides and Fair Director’s Picks. By transforming these experiences into immersive Virtual Exhibitions, visitors could now digitally explore curated selections that aligned with themes like The Inner Spirit’s Quest, The Hunt for New Blood, Exploring the Uncanny, and The Super Naturalist’s Field Guide.

The Fair Director’s Picks were further enhanced through Room Mockups, offering a visually dynamic way to showcase these artworks in realistic spaces. By enabling visitors to view art at scale within virtual environments, ArtPlacer added an extra layer of engagement, helping collectors imagine how pieces would look in their homes even before they left the fair.

The ArtPlacer team at the booth at the Affordable Art Fair.

Fostering a dynamic art community

ArtPlacer’s partnership with the Affordable Art Fair NY helped bridge the gap between traditional and digital art experiences. Our tools empowered exhibitors to enhance their presentations, engage collectors more deeply, and streamline the art-buying process.

This collaboration fostered meaningful connections between galleries, artists, and collectors, while providing everyone involved with innovative ways to experience and engage with art. 

We look forward to continuing to support the art community through dynamic, accessible tools that elevate the art world in new and exciting ways.