How to Upload Artworks

This guide will provide instructions for uploading artworks to CMS, a critical function and part of successfully maintaining your Artsy presence. Please note that as you work within CMS, changes take time to process on the front-end of Artsy.net. 

Start a New Artwork Upload

First, click on the Artworks tab.

Click on the “Add Artworks” button near the top left of the page, highlighted here in purple.

Select the Artist

On the next page, type the artist's name into the search bar. Some artists already exist in the Artsy database. If the artist you are looking for appears, simply click on the name and click the “Next” button in the upper righthand corner of your screen.

If you are adding an artist not already in the Artsy database, click the button at the bottom of your screen that says “Add Artist to Artsy.” A pop-up window appears prompting you to add information about the artist including name, nationality, and birth year.

Click “Save Changes” when you are done, and then click the “Next” button in the upper righthand corner of your screen to proceed with the artwork upload process.

Once you have selected the artist, click the “Next” button to continue.

Add Artwork Images

On the next page, upload images into the “Click and Drag Images Here” box by dragging images into the box or clicking on the box to select images from your Finder.

Please note that images must be JPEG or PNG image files with at least 1000 x 1000 pixels with a total file size of less than 30 megabytes. At this stage, please upload only one image per artwork. You will have an opportunity to upload additional views and detailed images at a later point.

The images you upload will be invisibly watermarked with Digimarc. Viewers will not be able to download the image or save the image directly. Square thumbnail images of your newly uploaded images will appear once uploaded and processed.

After all thumbnail images load, click the “Next” button to continue. You will then be prompted to add metadata to each of your newly uploaded works. To get started, click "Edit the First Artwork."

Add Artwork Metadata

For each artwork, fill in basic metadata including title, date and medium for each artwork, as well as all required fields in order to publish the work. Selecting a medium type will generate a list of artwork categories which are used to further describe the work. Collectors can search for works within these categories when browsing on Artsy.net, making them an important tool for maximizing your discoverability on the site.

In the “Editions, Size & Pricing” section, indicate whether the work is available, on hold, not for sale, or sold. When adding pricing information you can choose to display an exact price on Artsy, display the price as a range, or hide the price entirely. We recommend always including pricing information. Works with pricing information result in more qualified inquiries and ensure your works are discoverable in targeted price searches by collectors.

Click “Add Editions” if you would like to add information about an editioned work or multiples. Under the section “Provenance & More Info,” you have the option to fill in the fields for Image Rights, Provenance, Exhibition History, and more. This section is not required.

When you have added all the necessary information, click “Save Changes” or “Save and Next” to move on to editing the next artwork.

Complete the Upload

When you have finished adding the metadata you will be given a confirmation of what has been uploaded. You may then view uploaded works, or continue to upload works by another artist.

After you have entered metadata for all of your artworks, you have the option to add the works to a show or to request them for publication. To do this, either hit the “Select All” button to select all uploaded artworks, or click the checkmark beneath the desired works. Use the “Add to Show” and “Publish Request” buttons at the top of your screen.

When you are finished, click “Done” in the upper righthand corner of your screen.

Note: When uploading images on 2D works, Artsy will enable a “View in Room” feature. Only upload images cropped close so as not to have any wall or background in them so they may be supported in View in Room.