Breaking through the pretention to create a more transparent, inclusive and welcoming community for all to enjoy art, Artsy’s chief marketing officer paints the picture for the platform’s brilliant future ahead.
Neon logo in the brand’s Berlin office
“I grew up in a place that was very difficult to grow up in,” shares Everette Taylor, chief marketing officer for Artsy, of his early years spent in Richmond, Va.
Everette Taylor, chief marketing officer for Artsy
“Not a lot of access to the arts, culture, technology, things like that,” he says. “And so, I think when I finally got access to tech and to art and things like that, that was something that I just really naturally gravitated to.”
Wangari Mathenge, “The Ascendants VI” (2020), a work in Taylor’s collection.
Fast-forward to today and the maverick is behind the buzziest platform in business that is democratizing the art world. As a serial entrepreneur, Taylor founded a marketing firm and ArtX. “I saw a lot of inequities in the space, which inspired me to start a company called ArtX,” Taylor says. “The focus was to highlight artists and provide exposure to artists, especially artists of color, and marginalized groups,” he explains. “Because I saw the things that I experienced as a collector… I wanted to build something that felt accessible. I wanted to build something that felt like anybody off the street that was interested in art and looking for artists could use this platform.” Taylor notes this aligned perfectly with the mission of Artsy and his transition was serendipitous. “I’ve been hopping around and doing a lot of different things in the world of technology,” he says. “But this one truly aligns with who I am as a person, as I’m passionate about truly making an impact in the space that is meaningful.”
Amoako Boafo, “Mustard Turtleneck” (2020)
Taylor experienced the transformative power of art in his own home firsthand after winning a work through a raffle. “That moment when you first put up an art piece or photography in your home... [you] see how that completely changes.” He notes that his collection primarily focuses on the work of underrepresented and marginalized artists. “I want to keep a core focus on African and Latin American artists, but also want to support other marginalized groups as well,” he says. “I just want to buy things that I love, that mean something to me. And that’s impactful. And it doesn’t hurt if it’s also a strong financial investment.”
“Since I’ve started, we’ve implemented really big changes… being very, very intentional about spotlighting and giving a platform to marginalized artists, to Black artists, to people of color,” Taylor says, noting this effort extends to everything from algorithms to marketing campaigns, sharing that now, of the platform’s most in-demand artists, 65% are Black. “We really lead with diversity.”
Henry Taylor, “Portrait of Everette Taylor #1”
When asked about the future of NFTs in the space, Taylor says they are here to support artists and art in any medium. “This is just another medium for people to creatively express themselves,” he says. “We’re here to support the organizations and our partners on our platform. And then, ultimately, we’re here for artists who love art. And any medium that artists want to creatively express themselves and sell through that medium, Artsy is here to support that.”
Jadé Fadojutimi, “I’m just one crawl away,” all works in Taylor’s collection.
Taylor shares that Artsy’s hightech tools like My Collection empower anyone with a virtual art adviser in their pocket a mere click away, enabling ease for everything ranging from valuations and liquidation to tracking investments. “You can see the demand index. You can request a price estimate at a click of a button. You can see art market statistics,” he says, noting Artsy will also send related articles about the artists in your collection to keep you well informed. “It’s almost like another social network in the sense of being able to keep track of the artists in your collection.”
Kennedy Yanko, “Black”
“It has opened up the floodgates for anybody who’s interested in buying art and has the means to buy art,” says Taylor of the transformative power of Artsy. “And when I say the means to buy art... we have things from $100 to tens of millions of dollars on our platform. And we’re doing it in a way that feels warm. It feels welcoming,” he says. “To me, that’s what makes Artsy so special—the ability for everyone to buy art, and enjoy art.”
Photography by: PHOTO COURTESY OF ARTSY
