Art on the Internet: Instagram as a Visual Platform

By Max Berman on May 21, 2016

Before the internet, there were print publications and art galleries for artists to put their work out into the world. While this may have been effective for those who were able to penetrate the mainstream, it left a lot of artists high and dry when it came to gaining exposure. Since the creation of Instagram, many artists have been able to gain massive amounts of exposure, which is crucial for pushing artwork as well as gaining an effective following. In 2016, there are hundreds of accounts that all compete to gain massive followings and be the first to expose fresh work to the world.

 I know that I just wrote about Instagram accounts, but since plunging deep into the abyss of the internet, I’ve compiled a list of the best contemporary accounts currently out there. Digitally, there is a new wave of artists and curators, and those who have the most followers are winning the attention of some of today’s top galleries and a wide audience that would have previously been unimaginable. Whether it be photoshop manipulation or an abstract oil on canvas, artists are taking to the platform to showcase their work to people all across the world.

 The first account that comes to mind when thinking of contemporary art is @avant.arte. Not only do they post incredible post-modern work, they have taken it one step further with the creation of their own app. Their philosophy is that there needs to be a platform that not only shows the work, but allows the artist to directly price and sell their work to the eager audience. Their solution has been their own app which allows exactly that, and with over 100,000 downloads, it’s definitely beginning to gain some traction. Most recently, the account has been fascinated with artist Sally Hewitt. Hewitt gained online popularity when she began posting her risque crocheted pieces on Instagram, and has gained a cult like following since.

When thinking aesthetic, the account to follow automatically belongs to @taxlifestyle. With dream-like landscapes and the latest contemporary art, it’s a page that soothes the soul as you scroll the feed. Featuring gem pictures from @zeadsdead, it also showcases high end jewelry as well as emerging brands and fashion lines. Most notably, they began a collaboration with the comedy page @lehrerboys. Based out of Los Angeles, California, this duo brings humor in a biting, sarcastic way that hasn’t quite been seen across the internet before. Together, they plan on releasing a chapbook with poetry and images created by the Lehrer brothers, which tells the story of a young socialite emerging in the midst of a technological revolution. They plan on releasing the collaboration within the next year, and will be releasing limited edition signed prints to a select few.

 If you’re looking to take a break from the typical art account, one person you need to catch up on is @aureta. While she may only be one woman, she is a force to be reckoned with. Jetsetting all over the world and documenting her adventures, one day she’s in Greece and the next in Japan. Seeking to document the earth’s beauty in its entirety, her page drifts between breathtaking landscapes and indulgence in the finest food and wines to marvelous sculptures and modern installations. Not only has she commanded an audience of 300,000 on this account, she also co-runs an art account (@love.watts) which is approaching a million followers. This account is more varied with the works, and includes videos as well as different artist “takeovers”. They have become a hub for artists to submit their work and have it displayed, and have spawned a slew of other curation accounts which strive to show off today’s best art work as well.

One account that slightly differs from the other is @artofadventures. Headed by one woman as well, the account documents different travels across Europe as well as the Middle east. Landscapes and ruins primarily make up this page, and allows for viewers to travel across the world as they scroll through the page.

The last account to make sure to view if the next time you’re scrolling through Instagram is @taxcollection. Approaching 200,000 followers they’re a force to be reckoned with. Updating typically between 10-15 times day, there’s always fresh content for one to view. Their following massively increased after January, in which time they had recently collaborated with Cage The Elephant on their new album “Tell Me I’m Pretty”. They created the main piece for their album release party in Nashville, Tennessee and have been doing other creative projects as well since then.

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