STATE OF THE ART WEB COMPANY

Grace your walls with student art

You could discover the next Mustafa Maluka or Willie Bester simply by logging on to a new web-based company offering graduate and student art at affordable prices.

“We’re aiming at people who wouldn’t normally go into an art gallery,” says Jennifer Reynolds, the founder of www.StateoftheArt.co.za, a new Cape Town-based business selling the best artwork created by students and recent graduates over the internet.

“My website gives students and recent graduates a platform from which to launch their careers. Very few students get represented by a gallery when they leave university or art college – they’re producing good work, some of which gets sold at graduate exhibitions, but then they can’t find anywhere to show it. My website is somewhere you can go year-round to buy unique contemporary art much easier than a gallery”.

The site currently features around 10 artists but more are being recruited. “It’s quite competitive,” says Jennifer. “If it doesn’t sell it won’t stay on the site.”

The price of artwork starts from as little as R160. www.StateoftheArt.co.za is aware of the difficulties of all South African artists and has also created SOTA Selective to allow talented untrained artists to benefit from the marketing services provided by the company. To exhibit on StateoftheArt.co.za, artists must apply or be invited, as only South African graduates/students who are serious about pursuing their art career and developing a unique style are chosen. StateoftheArt.co.za is happy to contribute soundbites, top tips and anything else relevant to editorial projects relating to student and graduate art.

Although Jennifer is based in Cape Town the site covers universities and colleges throughout South Africa. “The beauty of a web-based business is that you can run it from anywhere there’s a computer,” she says. She is targeting businesses such as boutique hotels, B&B’s, and corporate venues, as well as budget-conscious collectors. Visitors to the site can browse by genre, artist, price or university/college, and have art delivered to their door.

With prices starting from as little as R160, owning a piece or beginning a collection of original artwork by South African’s most talented emerging artists is not only an exciting way to own art, but could be a shrewd investment. Fine Art students and graduates wishing to exhibit on the StateoftheArt.co.za should log on to the website and click ‘Join Us’.