If you’ve never heard of ArtBinder, the app that enables galleries to present their roster of artworks through simple touchscreen technology, that’s set to change. The startup, led by CEO Alexandra Chemla, announced on July 1 that it raised $3.17 million in funding from Index Ventures. The investment will largely be used to expand their latest project, ArtBinder Viewer, a free app for browsing the inventory of galleries around the world, which recently went live.
ArtBinder launched in 2011 and counts among its clients several top galleries, including David Zwirner, Gavin Brown’s enterprise, Hauser & Wirth, Gladstone Gallery, Lisson Gallery, and Pace. Chemla, who began her career as an assistant at Gavin Brown, conceived of the tool while preparing for Art Basel, a task that at the time included compiling and maintaining several physical binders full of images. The archaic nature of this task inspired her to figure out a more streamlined, modern alternative.
“Alexandra and her team have quickly established ArtBinder as the platform of choice for a growing number of prestigious galleries, because it allows them to leverage the power of tablets and the cloud to show art to their clients in a very compelling and seamless way,” said Neil Rimer, partner at Index Ventures. If ArtBinder’s success thus far is any indication, Viewer promises to become a must-have app for dealers at art fairs.