Saatchi Online

Saatchi Online is the online contemporary art gallery of modern art's leading light, Charles Saatchi. Principally a social networking site connecting artists with potential buyers around the world, it allows contemporary art to reach a wider audience, providing a free platform for artists to promote their work to a global audience. Not surprisingly where Charles Saatchi is involved, this is the site where contemporary art is happening.

MILLIONS OF VISITORS

With a staggering 55 million hits per day, the site has attracted 35000 artists and a further 19000 have registered with Stuart, the student art section, all since February, 2007. Painters, photographers, sculptors, graffiti artists and video artists upload high resolution images of works, along with details of their biographies and future shows. Prices range between £500 and £5000.

BROWSE ONLINE

The savvy collector and buyer can browse the galleries, leave comments and buy works by contacting the artist direct. As a consequence, prices are much lower and it's a win win situation all round. The site charges no fees for membership and takes no commission on sales.

SOCIAL NETWORKING FOR THE ART WORLD

Think MySpace or Bebo taken from a much more interesting angle. There is a magazine section, a critics' corner and diary of future shows. Showdown is one of the most popular features, a fortnightly competition where artists submit images for visitors to rate with a £1000 prize for the winner. The site has a Mandarin version and in time will encompass Russian, Spanish and Korean.

BIG NAMES

When Charles Saatchi opens his new gallery at The Duke of York's Headquarters, London, expect some interaction between this site and the gallery.

With Saatchi's beady eye over the proceedings, you know that some of the artists on the site are going to be big names in five or six years time.