Month 11
Artsy, Singulart, Saatchi, Artnet: complete 2026 platform guide
10 min readBy Dorian Verdier
In 30 seconds
Artsy: institutional premium, gallery access, 30-50% commission. Singulart: intermediate, curated, 35-50%. Saatchi Art: accessible, open to all, 35%. Artnet: secondary market prestige, galleries only. Emerging: Saatchi with low expectations or nothing. Intermediate-established: Singulart or Artsy via gallery. None replace a real gallery.
Artsy: institutional premium platform
- Founded in 2009 in New York — global reference for high-end primary market
- Access only via partner gallery — no direct artist application
- Collector audience: $5,000 to $500,000 per acquisition
- Presence at Art Basel, Frieze fairs — international amplification
- Commission: 30 to 50% negotiated between gallery and platform
Singulart: European intermediate platform
- Founded in 2017 in Paris — mainly European market
- Application + selection committee — 15 to 25% acceptance rate
- Typical price range: $800 to $15,000
- Commission: 35 to 50% depending on included services
- Promotion included — no mandatory additional paid campaigns
Saatchi Art: accessible marketplace
- Founded in 2010 in Los Angeles — open to all without selection
- 1M+ works online — very hard visibility without marketing effort
- Typical range: $200 to $3,000
- Fixed commission: 35%
- Optional paid promotional campaigns: $200 to $1,000
Artnet: secondary market prestige
- Founded in 1989 — database and recognized gallery marketplace
- Primarily secondary market — resales, not first sales
- No direct access for individual artists
- Relevant in established phase (15+ years) with public sales history
Decision table by profile
- Emerging 0-3 years ($200-1,500): Saatchi with low expectations, or no platform
- Emerging 3-7 years ($1,000-5,000): apply to Singulart with polished dossier
- Intermediate 7-15 years: Singulart + physical gallery for Artsy access
- Established 15+ years: Artsy + Artnet via gallery as international amplification
The 3 platform truths
- Truth 1: no platform replaces a physical gallery and human support
- Truth 2: Saatchi ROI is low — 70-80% sell nothing year 1, average $600-3,500 for the 20-30% who sell
- Truth 3: Artsy and Artnet require a gallery intermediary by design — no workaround
The 4 platform mistakes
- Mistake 1: believing "being on platforms" is enough without active marketing
- Mistake 2: showing different prices across platforms — destroys trust
- Mistake 3: accepting unnegotiated exclusivity that blocks other channels
- Mistake 4: sloppy Singulart application — amateur visual dossier = near-certain rejection
FAQ
Can you be on multiple platforms?
Yes, except exclusivity clauses. Check contracts.
How long to measure ROI?
12 months minimum. First results in 3-6 months.
Should you pay for promotion?
Saatchi offers paid campaigns $200-1,000. Singulart includes promotion. Artsy/Artnet: managed by gallery.