• SellArts operates as an online marketplace connecting African artists with collectors and buyers.
• Founder Philippe-Emmanuel Yacé launched the Abidjan-based startup in 2023.
• The platform targets individuals, companies, artists, and galleries to expand access and visibility.

SellArts operates as an e-commerce platform developed by an Ivorian startup and functions as a digital gallery that enables artists to showcase and sell their work directly online.

The platform offers paintings, sculptures, photographs, and craft objects, while it applies editorial curation to highlight creators and their artistic universes. The startup operates from Abidjan, and Philippe-Emmanuel Yacé launched the company in 2023.

The startup said, “Our platform makes discovering, collecting and purchasing artworks accessible to enthusiasts and art lovers. It also provides Ivorian artists with a space to promote and sell their creations. Furthermore, art dealers can discover new talent and strengthen their visibility.”

SellArts targets multiple user segments, as individuals seek to acquire artworks, companies look to rent or purchase art for their spaces, and artists and galleries aim to expand their visibility.

Moreover, the platform goes beyond transactions and emphasizes editorial selection and user experience. It offers thematic collections, featured artists, and personalized recommendations to guide buyers through a market that many perceive as complex.

The platform aims, on the one hand, to broaden access to African art by increasing its visibility to a wider, including international, audience. On the other hand, it seeks to provide artists with an alternative distribution channel in a sector historically dominated by physical galleries and closed networks.

SellArts aligns with the rise of specialized digital art platforms that reshape distribution and monetization channels. In Africa, where the market remains relatively understructured, such initiatives could help professionalize the ecosystem and increase creators’ revenues.

Ultimately, the platform aims to establish itself as a leading hub for African art by combining technology, editorial curation, and direct market access.

This article was initially published in French by Adoni Conrad Quenum

Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum