Artists make a lot of work. Unfortunately we don’t sell most of it.
The art market is built on a myth of scarcity,
and a highly choreographed limiting of supply.
Since most people can’t afford the high price of art,
a lot of work is left out of sight.
Through Zero Art Fair, visitors can take possession of art without buying it,
becoming art collectors in the process.
Our platform allows artists to give their work away
Without giving up on future sales.
In 2024 we placed 178 works with new collectors through our contract
representing $536,913 in potential retail value.
Zero Art Fair is enabled by our contract,
that legally transfers ownership of work after a vesting period of 5 years.
If an artworks transferred through Zero Art Fair is ever sold,
the artist receives 50% of the first sale price.
Our contract grants artists 10% resale royalty rights
on all subsequent sales of the work.
Zero Art Fair is not a substitute for the art market
It’s an experimental intervention into a system that doesn’t serve most artists or art lovers.
At Zero Art Fair, price does not determine value.
We believe everyone deserves to live with art.
This is simpler in theory than in practice.
Our model relies on support from those who can afford to help others live with art.
In 2024 we raised $16k from individual donors for the Elizaville edition
and thousands in in-kind support to cover the costs of the fair including $3.5k in benefit sales of our own prints.
Costs included website development, e-signature service, event insurance, art handling, building materials, lighting, port-a-potties, curatorial fees, event staffing, food, transportation, event listings, participation fees, and tax liability.
In 2025 the budget for the fair is generously covered primarily by two institutional sponsors
allowing us to provide artist fees this year while covering the rest of the costs of the fair.
In 2024 anyone with access to a car could take home works from Zero Art Fair in Elizaville, NY
This year, we will prioritize access to the art work for people who need financial help to live with art.
Our philosophy to subsidize access to art is inspired by author Mark Bittman’s non-profit Community Kitchen model for the restaurant industry
We share a belief that there are:
Zero Art Fair 2025 will open with a 3-day exhibition period open to the general public. Works will be available for sale at their retail price.
The fair will close with a 2-day event for people who apply for tickets to take home artwork for free using our contract. Tickets will be prioritized for those who tell us they need help to live with art.
Zero Art Fair is a continuing experiment to help get art out of storage and into people’s lives.
