I’m sure we’ll never fit in and that’s fine by us. Our role is to disrupt the centre, agitate the order and to unapologetically take up space because we can and are no less deserving than Matisse. - (The Lonely Londoners via Dazed)
MRKT is a small art-selling business created by a team of women of colour, opening a more accessible space within the industry for underrepresented artists from the global majority. In a world that is oversaturated by commodities - especially those mass produced unsustainably - MRKT is focusing on artist-first production of meaningful artwork. “Artist led, community led”
MRKT allows the artists to completely focus on producing and developing their craft, whilst taking over the administration required in this day and age to advertise and sell artwork. With a background in graphic design, the team is working on curating the work produced, and advertising it in a way that honours the artists behind the work, telling their story and showing the importance of working with underrepresented artists who may be struggling to start the process of selling and monetising their work. Now more than ever, where we spend our money matters. MRKT is providing an option for art enthusiasts to make meaningful acquisitions of incredible artwork, whilst being provided a seamless experience. MRKT is challenging the concept that "good” quality and beautiful art is elitist and unattainable, and confronts the overall exclusivity in art galleries, high prices and limited access for marginalised artists.
Elitism in art galleries and in the mainstream art-selling industry excludes a vast wealth of artistic expression from marginalised communities. Often when work from artists from the global majority is sold in mainstream galleries, their work is appropriated and they are often paid unfair commissions. The MRKT platform, on the contrary, ensures that quality artwork can be more affordable, whilst being fair with the artists that they work with - giving them freedom to explore their identity, develop their practice and be paid a fair commission for the work that is sold.
I interviewed the founders of The MRKT: Ravista Mehra and Zarna Hart – hailing from India and Trinidad & Tobago, respectively, and both having earlier careers in Graphic Design. We discussed ideas such as why it is important to work with underrepresented artists, their sustainable approaches as a business as well as some insight on what it's been like to start The MRKT!
S: How do you connect with artists? How do you help them be able to develop their artistic practice as underrepresented artists?
R: Having a formal background in the field of art and design is a really big help while connecting and working with artists. It is helpful to have context and empathy of where they are coming from, especially when we talk about ‘creation’ of work.
Artists are not factories that can just produce to satisfy the demand of an audience or even a gallerist or art dealer. It is a very critical and unpredictable journey. We like to help inspire the creative journey and let it take the artist where it needs to, rather than working backwards from a timeline.
Having experience in education and teaching at universities for the last 3 years, has been instrumental in helping me figure out how to enable young, underrepresented artists to grow in their practice. It’s a delicate dance between letting them do their thing, and challenging them to push themselves further; conceptually or materially.
S: How does sustainability affect any decisions you’ve made for the way MRKT runs/ the artists that you work with?
Z: From the very beginning, we were aware of the impact that overproduction had on artists, and the way in which this “factory” mindset has plagued the negative perspective on art-selling establishments. And let’s be completely honest here, the accessibility for space in a city like London is incredibly limited, especially when you’re just starting out. Fortunately, I think because Ravista and I spent so much time in the graphic design industry, we have an understanding and appreciation for being resourceful. So, it was only natural that sustainability was the way we led conversations with our artists: we work together in small batches (as a small business we have limited storage and don’t want to put pressure on our artists); all of our packaging and materials are recyclable / sustainably sourced; apart from our artists we work with incredible independent providers for various aspects of our business; and encourage remote-working with our team because ultimately, it has a smaller impact on the planet.
S: Why is it important to work along the lines of cultural/ ethnic identities?
R: Identity is the birthright of every individual. Identity is who we are, and what our story is. A really crucial part of that story is the background and context of our reality which is our culture and our ethnicities. Growing up in India, I did not release how massive a role my culture played a part in my story, but when I moved to America for my undergrad it became very evident. The last 10 years has been a journey of understanding the role that culture, tradition, and land plays in identity. Existing in a post-colonial setting, one cannot escape from the stories, or stereotypes (singular stories told furiously and repeatedly) that have come before and linger in the air. My personal practice, and as an extension MRKT is looking to rewrite those stories.
I believe that stories should be told by the person whose story it is. It is not for a foreign audience to dream or romanticise a person, people, land or culture. It is for the audience to listen with humility and curiosity.
S: Are there any struggles in competing in a very demanding art selling industry? What issues have you run into whilst trying to make a space for a platform like MRKT?
Z: Setting the overarching goals for MRKT at an early stage was very helpful, particularly where “competition” is concerned. Galleries, by their traditional definition, aren’t our competition in this case because we believe the scale of everything is very different. However, some of the major lessons we’ve learned since starting MRKT is that now more than ever, a digital presence is absolutely necessary, which is ironically new territory for us. We’ve had loads of experience launching other brands and generating the necessary campaigns and assets for those launches, but when it’s your own brand, it’s a whole different ball game. Knowing what works and what doesn’t, testing things, failing quickly, making mistakes– it’s all very integral to running a new business. I think today’s digital world just assumes you should have everything ‘done’ and ‘perfect’ from the minute you start and we’re very much learning to let go of that impossible expectation.
S: How has it been starting a small business and what advice would you give to other creatives seeking to start spaces for global majority artists?
R: It has been incredibly fun! When you love what you do and who you do it with, it is not work but play. That said, it is a lot of hard work, and you have to practice delayed gratification. You cannot work thinking I need to see the result then I will take the next step. You just keep taking the steps, and you will find yourself amongst success. The advice I would give to other creatives is to be open to rerouting by the universe. Rejection is truly redirection. And pick your business partner(s) with care. It may be the most important relationship you have with anyone in this lifetime.
S: Do you see MRKT fitting into the wider art world; or are you seeking to open a new space completely?
R: I think a bit of both. The audience that MRKT is trying to capture are young professionals from the global majority, who do not have an outstanding affiliation with the art world. We want to encourage a circular economy of art creation and purchase and collection by young people. That audience will indirectly expand the current ‘art world’ as it stands.
MRKT is a project that is moving towards a more inclusive and sustainable art world. By focusing on underrepresented artists from the global majority, MRKT is redefining what it means to create and buy art that holds value—not just in its production, but in its connection to culture, identity, and community. Through thoughtful curation and fair compensation the team behind MRKT is ensuring that art is accessible to all, while giving artists the space to grow, experiment, and express their authentic selves. MRKT is seeking to create a new and more meaningful way to buy art, challenging elitist standards and creating a space that is led by artists. This is just the beginning and we are very excited to see how MRKT will unfold in the coming year.
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Written by Sara Gibson, MRKT.