Since 1999

An Art Company That Built Its Own Technology

Artspan was never a tech company that added an art category. We're an art company that built the technology artists actually need.

Why Artspan Exists

In 1999, selling art online meant either learning HTML or paying someone thousands to build a website that you couldn't update yourself. Artists needed a better way — a platform that understood that their job is making art, not managing technology.

Artspan was built to solve that problem. Not with a generic website builder that happened to have an "art" template, but with a platform designed from the ground up for how artists actually work and sell.

Twenty-five years later, we're still here. Members who joined in 2000 are still on the platform. That's not something many tech companies can say — and it's because we've never lost sight of what matters: helping artists show and sell their work.

25+
Years Serving Artists
1999
Year Founded
100+
Frame & Mat Options
0%
Commission on Direct Sales

Our Journey

1999

Artspan Founded

Launched as one of the first platforms dedicated to helping artists sell their work online. Built in San Francisco by people who understood the art world.

2002

Marketplace Launches

The Artspan marketplace opens, giving artists a second sales channel — buyers can discover and purchase work alongside thousands of other professional artists.

2008

Ecommerce for Every Artist

Full ecommerce capabilities added to all plans — payment processing, order management, and inventory tracking at no extra charge.

2015

Mobile-Responsive Redesign

All artist websites updated to be fully responsive on phones and tablets, reflecting the shift in how buyers discover and purchase art.

2018

Prints-on-Demand

Built-in prints-on-demand launches. Artists can now sell canvas, paper, and metal prints with framing and matting — without touching inventory or shipping.

2020

AR Live Preview

Augmented reality preview feature launches, letting buyers see artwork on their actual wall at true scale before purchasing. No app required.

2023

Enhanced Scam Protection

Advanced fraud detection system deployed, actively monitoring for fake buyers, overpayment schemes, and phishing attacks targeting artists.

Today

Still Growing, Still Here

25+ years in, Artspan continues to evolve — adding features, improving the platform, and answering the phone when artists call. Some things don't change.

What Makes Artspan Different

🎨

Art-Only Focus

We don't sell restaurant websites, portfolio templates for lawyers, or e-commerce for dropshippers. Every feature we build is for visual artists. That's it.

🙋

Real Human Support

Call 1-800-559-5415 and talk to a real person who knows art. Not a chatbot. Not a ticket system. Artists helping artists.

💪

All-in-One Platform

Website + print shop + marketplace + AR preview + scam protection. On other platforms, you'd need 3-4 separate subscriptions to get what Artspan includes in one.

What We Believe

Artists should be making art, not managing technology. Every feature we build is measured by one question: does this help an artist show or sell their work?

Buyers need to find artists easily. The marketplace exists so collectors can discover new artists organically. When a buyer falls in love with a piece, we make it simple to buy.

Selling art shouldn't require a logistics degree. Prints-on-demand means no inventory, no shipping supplies, and no standing in line at the post office. Upload your art and we handle the rest.

Artists deserve protection. We actively fight scams because selling art online shouldn't mean dealing with fake buyers and fraudulent payments on your own.

Real support means real people. When you call, a human answers. When you email, a human responds — usually the same day. We've been doing this for 25 years because relationships matter more than ticket numbers.

Join an Art Company That Gets It

Start your 30-day free trial and see why artists have trusted Artspan since 1999.

Start Your Free Trial