What to Look for in an Artist Website Company

Choosing the right artist website company is one of the most important decisions you’ll make as a creative professional. Your website isn’t just a portfolio — it’s your online gallery, your store, and often your first impression to collectors, curators, and fans.

If you’ve ever searched “best website platforms for artists” or “websites to sell art online,” you know there are countless options. The challenge is finding one that works for your unique needs.

Here are the 10 key things every artist should look for when choosing a website company or platform:

1. Ease of Use

A great artist portfolio website should be simple to update without technical skills. Look for drag-and-drop tools, clear menus, and an intuitive interface so you can add new artworks, change descriptions, or update prices quickly.

2. Professional Design

Clean, modern design makes your art the focus. The best websites for artists offer professional templates with customizable layouts, fonts, and colors — so your site reflects your personal style without looking generic.

3. Image Quality & Handling

Your paintings, drawings, or sculptures deserve crisp presentation. Strong platforms will:

  • Optimize images for fast loading without losing quality

  • Offer zoom or full-screen display

  • Provide lightbox galleries for immersive viewing

This is essential for art websites that sell.

4. Artist-Specific Features

Generic website builders don’t always fit an artist’s workflow. Look for features like:

  • Galleries organized by medium, series, or year

  • Optional price visibility

  • A “not for sale” toggle for pieces in collections

  • Simple ways to add new work as your portfolio grows

5. E-Commerce Options

To sell art online, your website should make transactions seamless and secure. Choose a platform that supports Stripe or PayPal, with flexible pricing, shipping, and tax tools. Many artists now rely on their art e-commerce websites as their main sales channel.

6. Marketing Tools

A strong website should also help you attract collectors and fans. Look for:

  • SEO features (custom titles, alt text for images, clean URLs)

  • Built-in blogs or newsletters to engage your audience

  • Easy social media integration for sharing your artwork

These tools help your artist website rank higher in Google and reach more people. With the advent of AI, it’s even more critical.

7. Domain & Hosting

A professional artist should have a custom domain like yourname.com. Hosting should be fast, reliable, and ideally included in your plan. Free subdomains (like yourname.squarespace.com) look less professional when marketing your art.

8. Support & Guidance

Responsive, knowledgeable support is vital — especially when you’re on a deadline. The best artist website platforms offer tutorials, guides, and customer service that understand creative businesses, not just tech jargon.

9. Cost & Flexibility

Affordable pricing is important, but also look for clear terms. Beware of hidden fees, storage limits, or transaction charges. The best option is one that lets you start simple and expand later — for example, from a portfolio site to a full online art store.

10. Ownership & Portability

Always make sure you own your content and images. Some companies lock you in, but a good artist website builder will let you export your data if you decide to move to a different provider later.

How I Can Help

As an artist myself, I know firsthand what works (and what doesn’t) when it comes to websites for artists. That’s why I offer custom artist website services, designed to take the stress out of building your online presence.

I’ll help you with:

  • Setting up a portfolio that beautifully displays your art

  • Optimizing images for speed and quality

  • Adding e-commerce options so you can sell your art online

  • Making sure your site is easy for you to update (or we can, if you prefer), with free training and ongoing support

👉 Ready to build a professional artist website that showcases your art and attracts buyers? Contact me today and let’s get started on your dream!