L'Original says 1,000 artists have joined its PickArt discovery tool
The Montreal gallery’s AI service uses swipes on 16 artworks to match users with local artists and available work.
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L'Original, a Montreal gallery and studio, said 1,000 living artists had signed up to PickArt, its free artificial-intelligence art discovery tool.
The app presents users with 16 artworks from living artists in their local area, without initially disclosing the artists’ identities, signatures or prices. Users keep works they like and pass on the rest; PickArt then uses those choices to build a taste profile in about two minutes and produce a tailored selection of artists and available work.
The milestone was announced by L'Original in a Nov. 2 release. Dorian Verdier, the gallery’s founder, said the service was intended for people who enjoy art but do not enter galleries because they do not know where to begin. He said the tool can introduce users to artists who may live “ten minutes from your place.”
Artist names are shown only at the end of the process. The stated aim is to allow viewers to respond to an image before the conventional gallery cues of an artist’s signature and an artwork’s price.
PickArt can also be used to arrange meetings with artists for one-off commissions, with buyers specifying colours, size and subject. L'Original presents this as an option for demanding purchasers and for gifts marking weddings, births or retirements.
For companies, the service allows teams to vote on artworks when choosing a muralist. L'Original says this makes a mural a shared project and can provide an additional reason for employees to return to the office.
PickArt was built by L'Original, founded in Montreal by Verdier. The gallery represents living local artists, has two Montreal locations and automates visibility and sales for its members. Each member has a page on L'Original’s website, while their work is republished through Artsy, Etsy and eBay.
The project went through the HEC Montréal incubator and Tech3Lab, the university’s user-experience research laboratory. Volunteer scientists also work on PickArt as part of an effort to understand how technology can make culture easier to reach.
PickArt does not require registration to start using it. Artists seeking representation can apply through L'Original’s website.
- Medium Art and design