Virtual Exhibition: Online Art Today

Online art has changed dramatically since the global pandemic. Beyond the negative consequences (closing of art galleries, cancellation of exhibitions…), this particular context gave birth to a new effervescence of creativity. From April 14 to 16, 2021, the virtual part of the international digital art festival Recto VRso was held online in the Laval Virtual World, where many international speakers gathered to question the stakes of online art today. As Maxence Grugier, a journalist specializing in digital art, noted: “Virtual worlds have created a playground for a new generation of artists.”

The Digital Transition and Historical Context

How did this digital transition take place and what profound changes has this transformation involved? It is important to remember that online art is a historical movement to which the pandemic has given a new meaning. Since the 90s, artists have been investing the Internet for the creation and exhibition of new interactive art forms conceived for, or through, this medium. For example, Maurice Benayoun, a pioneering figure in digital art, has been working with virtual reality and producing avant-garde works since the 1990s.

The cancellation of the exhibitions was a trigger to embrace virtual worlds. These online spaces have also proven to be very useful for the diffusion of art to the public. As Peggy Schoenegge, a freelance curator, explained: “New possibilities have arisen with the arrival of virtual worlds. There are no more limits!”

Virtual Museums and Immersive Experiences

With the closing of museums, galleries and cultural centers, institutions had to think about how to bring art content to visitors. The Fowler Museum at UCLA, for instance, allows visitors to enjoy virtual experiences and tour exhibitions immersively with a headset. Their virtual exhibitions include:

• Taming the Desert: Resilience, Religion, and Ancestors in Ancient Peru
• Descanse en Paz: Memorial Painting from 19th-Century Mexico
• The House Was Too Small: Yoruba Sacred Arts from Africa and Beyond
• Visualizing Devotion: Jain Embroidered Shrine Hangings

For object-based learning and close-looking, these platforms allow users to browse hotspots with additional images, audio, texts, videos, and 3D object models. The visiting experience is different from physical ones; as Valerie Hasson-Benillouche, founder of Galerie Charlot, observed: “In virtual art, it’s the space that adapts to the artwork.”

Top Platforms for Artists to Create Online Exhibitions

With the rise of technology, artists can now showcase their work to a larger audience by creating online exhibitions. Here is an overview of the top platforms available for artists today:

These platforms provide artists with the tools they need to reach potential buyers and engage with their audience. Each platform offers unique features and benefits that artists should consider when choosing the best playground for their needs.