Celebrity Art Dealer Avery Andon Launches ArtLife Auctions
The new platform takes aim at traditional auction houses with digital-first model.
Avery Andon, an art dealer and the longtime manager of street artist Alec Monopoly, is looking to shake up the auction market with the launch of his new platform, ArtLife Auctions. His new endeavor is an extension of ArtLife.com, which he launched in 2015 as an online-only blue chip art gallery promoted through short-term pop-ups as opposed to a traditional brick-and-mortar gallery. Continuing to rethink the typical ways of the art world, the site’s new auction arm will launch with “The Core Collection: 001,” featuring a wide-array of works from names like KAWS, Daniel Arsham and Andy Warhol.
The debut auction, which will take place from October 15 to October 25, will include pieces that range from thousands of dollars to upwards of a million dollars. Highlighted works include a Four Foot Companion (Black Dissected) from the OriginalFake/KAWS collection of ultra-collectible toys, an original painting by the graffiti artists OSGEMEOS, an entire Future Relic set from Daniel Arsham and several rare Andy Warhol prints. Additional pieces will be revealed upon the auction’s opening.
Maintaining its commitment to making art auctions less intimidating, ArtLife Auctions is charging 0% in seller’s fees, offsetting the industry standard of 5-7%. It’s also differentiating itself by offering free return shipping on unsold artworks, creating a risk-free opportunity, and waiving miscellaneous fees like digital photography, storage and marketing that the large auction houses often sneak in. Holistically, ArtLife.com’s model and its new auction platform have provided enthusiasts access to art during the global pandemic while traditional houses struggled to do so. “Our success is the direct result of five years of investing in SEO instead of brick-and-mortar retail locations,” says Andon. “[Auction houses] wooed their clients with fancy dinners, private events and live auctions, but the pandemic has leveled the playing field.”
“The Core Collection: 001” auction will begin on October 15 and continue through October 25. To learn more about the ArtLife Auctions platform or the upcoming October auction, visit ArtLife’s website or download the ArtLife mobile app.
