"The digital world is so important these days,” said Lehmann Maupin Gallery co-founder Rachel Lehmann in a statement. “This was true long before COVID-19 but is ever more apparent to us now. When we team up with partners and collaborate, our world becomes bigger. In this new initiative, we see an opportunity to expand our reach and promote our artists and their work to an international audience. One of Sotheby’s strengths is its commitment to curatorial integrity, even when dealing with the marketplace. We trust they will provide rich curatorial context for our artists when showcasing artworks online. This context is extremely important to us, as is the ability for collectors to have a seamless experience online, including the ability for direct purchase."
Each gallery will have a digital viewing room of works that are being offered exclusively through the platform, creating what Sotheby’s calls a “bespoke online presence.” Unlike in traditional galleries and auctions, set prices will be publicly-listed. Galleries will have access to Sotheby’s many resources: art expertise, technological capabilities, financial services, and a captive audience of collectors.
