The holidays are right around the corner and many folks are looking to spend their money responsibly for gifts and holiday goodies. Supporting independent makers and artists this year is a really great way to help others during the pandemic. Although annual holiday markets may be cancelled, there are still many places to find unique pieces of art online. So, whether you are an artist looking to sell your work, or you are looking to buy unique gifts and support artists, checkout these virtual art shops!

Saatchi Art

If exposure is what you’re after, Saatchi Art might be the place for you. The online art gallery and marketplace has a huge audience. Their website gets approximately 12 million page views and 1.6 million visitors each month, and they have almost 500,000 followers on Facebook and over 650,000 on Instagram. Saatchi Art can also help you sell on a global scale. The platform has sold to collectors in over 80 countries around the world.

Etsy

Etsy is an e-commerce website focused on handmade or vintage items and craft supplies. These items fall under a wide range of categories, including jewelry, bags, clothing, home décor and furniture, toys, art, as well as craft supplies and tools.

UGallery

If you’ve always dreamed of your art lining the walls of a high-end gallery, you might want to consider selling on UGallery. Its selection of paintings, illustrations, sculptures, prints and photos are carefully curated to appeal to the true art enthusiast. This online gallery/art market is also committed to showcasing new, exciting art. So in order to keep things new and interesting, they only exhibit art from emerging and mid-level artists—and that art must be original and exclusive to the platform. Basically, UGallery is looking to recreate the experience of visiting and shopping at a high-end art gallery—just in the digital space instead of in a physical location.

Shopify

Sometimes, the best way to make a living off your artwork is to take things into your own hands—and that means selling it online yourself.

Shopify is an e-commerce platform that makes it easy to sell art online. With Shopify, you can easily build a beautiful, easy-to-navigate e-commerce website to showcase your work to potential buyers and drive revenue for your business. Shopify also comes equipped with a host of features (including website templates and a suite of marketing tools) that make it easy to get your shop up and running.

Fine Art America

Fine Art America is the world’s largest online art marketplace and print-on-demand technology company. They’ve been helping artists sell wall art, tapestries, home decor, apparel, and other products since 2006 and are home to hundreds of thousands of artists, photographers, graphic designers, illustrators, and global brands.

In addition to providing an online marketplace, Fine Art America provides artists and photographers with sales and marketing tools to help simplify and accelerate their careers. These tools allow artists to set up branded web stores, sell prints through Shopify, create e-newsletters, sell through augmented reality, and more.

Artpal

Representing over 170,000 artists, ArtPal is a unique online gallery that is 100% free. Artists can choose to either sell their own items or use ArtPal’s print-on-demand features, giving them flexibility in how they allow people to buy art. It also means that artists can sell original artwork and prints side-by-side.

With no membership fees or commissions, and unlimited space to sell art, ArtPal takes the hassle out of selling while allowing you more time to be creative. ArtPal also has vast resources for artists to help them market their artwork, price items correctly, and how to set attainable goals for your career. This makes it a valuable resource for any artist looking to sharpen their business skills.

Amazon ART

Amazon? Yes, that’s right. In 2013, the online retail giant entered the fine art fray, opening a special Amazon Art section. They even have a selection of Guest Curators to bring a gallery feel to the digital market. In order to sell your art on Amazon, there is a pre-approval process. Note that only certain types of art are eligible. Original paintings, drawings, watercolors, and two-dimensional mixed media, as well as limited edition photography and prints are permitted. Unfortunately, sculptors will need to look elsewhere, as three-dimensional art is prohibited.

Selling crafts or other creative items instead? You can still sign up to become a seller on Amazon Handmade, which specializes in makers and supports individual creators by giving them access to Amazon’s Professional selling plan, free of charge.

TurningArt

If you’ve ever walked down the halls of a large, upscale corporate building, chances are you’ve walked by at least a few paintings. And if you’ve ever envisioned your art lining those hallways, you’ll want to check out TurningArt. This service rents and sells art to commercial clients, as well as coordinates original commissions.

Storenvy

Storenvy is an online marketplace where emerging brands can launch a custom store in just minutes. Whether you’re a fine artist, jewelry designer, furniture maker, or even budding musician, there is a place for everyone here. It’s free to set up an online store, and there are two ways to sell: you can either list your products in a marketplace and get access to millions of shoppers or build a professional store that looks like your own business (similar to a Shopify store). In addition, there are paid monthly plans that give you access to helpful e-commerce tools like automated discounts and social media blasts.

Ebay

Many artists find success with eBay with no restrictions on the medium. A quick look at eBay’s art category shows the wealth of what’s available. In the business since 1995, eBay is a trusted name in online sales and provides a huge amount of support to their sellers. Their How to Sell guides offer a step-by-step look at what artists can do to make sure they are displaying their artwork in the best light, giving it a better chance to sell.

Minted

Photographers, illustrators, and graphic designers will want to check out Minted, which is a top resource for wedding invitations, custom Christmas cards, and much more. Artists are selected via Design Competitions, which are voted on by the public. In addition to receiving their own Minted storefront, winner can win a cash prize and earn commission on their designs.

Society6

Looking to sell art reproductions or get your creativity printed on a wide variety of products? Society6 makes it extremely easy for you to upload artwork and photography and make them available as everything from art prints to iPhone cases. As the artist, you retain all rights to your artwork and Society6 takes care of all order fulfillment, meaning you don’t have to worry about any packaging or shipping. They even allow you to set your own royalty agreement on art prints and stretched canvases, with set fees in place for the other items they have for sale. If you want something quick and easy or ever dreamed of seeing your illustrations on apparel and home goods, Society6 is the way to go.

Casetify

Want your artwork to be on the things people use every day? CASETiFY is making it easy for you to reach consumers by customizing tech accessories like cell phone cases and Apple Watch bands. Simply upload your artwork and decide which designs you’ll want on their products. Once you make a sale, CASETiFY produces it, packages it, and ships it on your behalf. You retain the rights to your work and earn a profit on every case sold.

Zazzle

Zazzle is the best of both worlds, giving you the option to become a maker (to sell products) or a designer (to sell art). Artists, graphic designers, and photographers simply upload their artwork, making it available to print on demand, either as a piece of wall art or on a variety of products. Setting up a shop is free and you are able to set your own royalty percentage in order to earn what you please. Zazzle takes care of the rest.

Redubble

Redbubble is another print-on-demand service that allows artists to upload artwork to be printed on a huge variety of products, as well as reproduction prints. Redbubble allows artists to set their own profit margins, meaning you can organize your earnings as you like. From stationery and stickers to women’s apparel, and with in-depth traffic analytics for your shop, Redbubble is a fantastic option for artists seeking a print-on-demand partner.

Artplode

Artplode works with artists, galleries, dealers, and collectors and specializes in original art and limited edition prints and photographs. Instead of taking a commission when an artwork is sold, Artplode simply asks a flat listing fee for each piece. For an additional fee, they can even set you up with art consultants who can help you market your art to the right collectors and assist in pricing. Artists are also able to decide if they’d like to absorb the cost of shipping or pass the cost directly on to the buyer.