artfolio
artfolio is a Frankfurt-based German online marketplace and 3D virtual gallery platform where visual artists register, list, and sell contemporary paintings and artworks directly to collectors, supplemented by community features and a bundled personal artist website (kunstgalerie.ws).
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2011
- HeadquartersFrankfurt, Germany
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What artfolio does
artfolio is a Frankfurt-based German online art marketplace and 3D virtual gallery platform connecting visual artists directly with art collectors and enthusiasts, founded in 2011 and operated by Artfolio UG (haftungsbeschränkt). The platform enables artists to register, upload paintings, watercolors, oil and acrylic works, drawings, and prints, and reach buyers without traditional gallery intermediaries, while collectors can browse and purchase artworks directly. Its most differentiated technical asset is a web-based 3D Kunstgalerie (3D Art Gallery) feature that places artworks inside immersive virtual rooms with customizable frames, backgrounds, and lighting, supported by community features including vernissages (virtual exhibition openings), groups, competitions, comments, and per-artist profiles. Registration is free for artists and bundles a personal artist website at the co-branded kunstgalerie.ws subdomain, adding an identity-and-distribution layer that lifts switching costs.
The business model is a multi-prong monetization stack rather than a primary transaction-commission model: revenue derives principally from third-party advertising (Google AdSense display ads, Google Marketing Services remarketing), the Amazon EU Partner Program (affiliate links on the platform), and a freemium premium membership offering enhanced artist pages and packages. Go-to-market is self-serve and organic: artists self-register, collectors arrive via SEO-indexed public profiles and a Facebook presence (facebook.com/Artfolio.de), and there is no sales team or outbound motion visible in the data. The customer base is fragmented across three persona segments — Art Collectors and Enthusiasts (primary), Visual Artists (primary), and Gallery Owners (secondary) — served within Germany primarily, with mention of France and Italy as secondary operating geographies. The company is founder-controlled by André Hein, Lutz Schaffranek, and Ralf Napierski, operates as a German Kleinunternehmer under §19 UStG (signaling sub-threshold revenues), employs 1-10 staff, has no venture or institutional capital, and is registered at Siegener Str. 14, 65936 Frankfurt am Main (HRB 89562).
artfolio firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- artfolio
- Legal name
- Artfolio UG (haftungsbeschränkt)
- Website
- https://artfolio.de
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2011
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- artfolio is a Frankfurt-based German online marketplace and 3D virtual gallery platform where visual artists register, list, and sell contemporary paintings and artworks directly to collectors, supplemented by community features and a bundled personal artist website (kunstgalerie.ws).
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
artfolio industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Online Art Marketplace
- NAICS
- Art Dealers (459920)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Art Galleries & Exhibition Spaces (Commercial & Nonprofit) (THAJADAH)
Keywords
Where artfolio is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Frankfurt
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
artfolio business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- Affiliate Marketing (Amazon Partnerprogramm): artfolio participates in the Amazon EU Partner Program, earning advertising fees by placing Amazon links and ads on the platform. Cookies track user purchases originating from the platform.
- Display Advertising: Third-party advertising displayed on the platform including Google AdSense, with targeted ads based on user browsing behavior and interests.
- Premium Membership (implied): Platform mentions 'Premium-Mitglieder' and paid packages for artists including own artist website, suggesting premium tier membership options beyond free registration.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Monthly | Free basic membership for artists |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
artfolio product offering
Product offeringCore offering
artfolio operates an online marketplace (artfolio Online-Galerie) where visual artists can present and sell their artwork directly to collectors and art enthusiasts. The platform extends this with a 3D Kunstgalerie, an immersive virtual exhibition environment that allows visitors to experience artworks in a three-dimensional gallery setting.
Product overview
artfolio is a German online art gallery and platform comprising multiple integrated offerings: the core art marketplace (Online-Galerie) for buying and selling paintings, watercolors, oil and acrylic works; an immersive 3D Kunstgalerie feature for virtual room-based art presentation; and included artist websites with registration. Additional community features include virtual exhibition openings (Vernissage), artist groups, competitions, and comments. The platform targets three user segments: art enthusiasts/collectors, artists, and gallery owners.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Künstler.ws: Free artist website offering included with artfolio registration, allowing artists to have their own dedicated web presence.
Products and services
- artfolio Online-Galerie Web-based online art marketplace where visual artists can register, build a profile, present their work, and connect with art collectors and enthusiasts. It is the company's primary marketplace offering, with a free basic artist membership and a paid premium tier.
- 3D Kunstgalerie Immersive 3D virtual art gallery within the artfolio platform that allows artists to exhibit their works in a three-dimensional exhibition space, giving collectors and enthusiasts a richer viewing experience than a flat image catalog.
Companies that use artfolio
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
artfolio technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
artfolio partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor.
- Fotolia (Adobe Stock)minorBackground images used in 3D gallery room views are licensed from Fotolia. Image credits include various artists for room textures, wooden frames, parquet floors, and decorative elements used in virtual gallery environments.
- Kunstgalerie.wsminorFree artist website registration is included with artfolio membership, hosted at kunstgalerie.ws subdomain. This is a related property offering artists their own branded web presence.
Scale indicators1 record
Recent moves5 records
artfolio competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Etsy: Global marketplace for handmade, vintage, and unique goods including a significant art category. Comparable to artfolio as an online marketplace enabling independent creators to sell directly to buyers, though at vastly larger scale.
- 1stDibs: Luxury online marketplace for high-end art, furniture, and decorative objects from dealers and galleries. Comparable to artfolio as an online art marketplace, though focused on the luxury/premium segment.
Direct peers
- Rise Art: UK-based online art gallery and marketplace offering original artworks from contemporary artists with try-before-you-buy rental options. Comparable to artfolio in serving collectors seeking original works directly from artists.
- Artsy: Online art marketplace and database for discovering, buying, and selling works from galleries, auction houses, and fairs worldwide. Comparable to artfolio as an online art marketplace serving both collectors and galleries.
- Artnet: Online art marketplace and auction platform with price database and gallery network. Comparable to artfolio in providing online art commerce infrastructure, though with broader scope including auctions and price analytics.
- Artfinder: Online marketplace for original art from independent artists, focused on paintings, sculpture, photography, and prints. Directly comparable to artfolio in target customer base — collectors seeking original works from independent artists.
- Artmajeur: European online art marketplace allowing artists to sell original artworks directly to buyers. Comparable to artfolio in its European focus and direct artist-to-buyer marketplace model.
- Saatchi Art: Leading global online art marketplace connecting emerging artists directly with collectors. Closely comparable to artfolio in business model — direct artist-to-collector sales — but at vastly larger scale and global reach.
- Singulart: Paris-based online art gallery featuring contemporary paintings, sculptures, and photography from artists across 80+ countries. Directly comparable as a curated online art marketplace with a similar artist-to-collector value proposition.
Emerging players
- Redbubble: Online marketplace connecting independent artists with buyers for print-on-demand products featuring original artwork. Comparable to artfolio in artist-direct-to-buyer commerce model, though focused on prints rather than original artworks.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
artfolio social profiles
Digital presenceartfolio financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
artfolio leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
artfolio funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
artfolio M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about artfolio
What does artfolio do?
artfolio operates an online marketplace (artfolio Online-Galerie) where visual artists can present and sell their artwork directly to collectors and art enthusiasts. The platform extends this with a 3D Kunstgalerie, an immersive virtual exhibition environment that allows visitors to experience artworks in a three-dimensional gallery setting.
Is artfolio a public or private company?
artfolio is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was artfolio founded?
artfolio was founded in 2011. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is artfolio based?
artfolio is headquartered in Frankfurt, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does artfolio make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Affiliate Marketing (Amazon Partnerprogramm) is the primary driver. The others are display Advertising and premium Membership (implied).
Who are artfolio's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Etsy and 1stDibs. Direct peers are Rise Art, Artsy, Artnet, Artfinder, Artmajeur, Saatchi Art and Singulart. Redbubble is listed as an emerging player.
Does artfolio have an API?
No public API is recorded for artfolio.
What industry is artfolio in?
artfolio's product category is Online Art Marketplace. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAJADAH, Art Galleries & Exhibition Spaces (Commercial & Nonprofit). Its NAICS code is 459920.