ESCP Europe Alumni Magazine - n°137 - Juillet 2011 - 19

Business
Reign of art
By Sophie Charlotte KESTLER [10] & Erika RIESENKAMPFF [10]
D.R.

D.R.

virtual gallery dedicated to the advancement of young contemporary art. Insight into their business by founders Sophie Charlotte KESTLER and Erika RIESENKAMPFF. The goal is to connect emerging artists with art enthusiasts and collectors across the globe. The website offers a platform to experience art irrespective of time and space. Visitors can access the virtual gallery in the privacy of their own homes and discover interesting new artists and their creations as well as purchase the artwork of their choice directly online.

The founder team spends a lot of time scouting unique and talented artists from among the main German art academies. Each participating artist is chosen according to strict guidelines and with the guidance of experienced art experts. “The selection process is very important,” says Sophie Charlotte. In the end, our artists are at the core of our business. We believe in their work and are proud to be actively involved in their artistic development.”

Thanks to Internet...

Emerging artists for emerging collectors

Our gallery

invests in the quality of experiencing art online. Special emphasis is put on the effective presentation of the artwork and the usability of the website.

The concept was born when Sophie Charlotte Kestler and Erika Riesenkampff, both ESCP Europe graduates of 2010, decided to team up and combine their passion for art with a lot of entrepreneurial spirit. “Our idea is simple,” says Sophie Charlotte, “we give talented young artists the opportunity to exhibit and promote their art and at the same time we provide art lovers with an easy access to new artistic positions.” Both founders had previously worked in the art business, Sophie Charlotte for the renowned gallery Haas & Fuchs in Berlin and Erika at the auction house CHRISTIE’s in Madrid. They were often confronted by friends with the question: where to buy original artwork at affordable prices. Due to their experience, they were very well aware of this dilemma and decided to find a solution. “The art market is highly elitist,” says Erika, “and the cake is shared by just a few international galleries, artists and collectors. However, contemporary art can only be truly alive when shared and discussed amongst contemporary minds. This is what REIGN OF ART is all about; we want to share our passion for art with a broader audience.”

Our gallery invests in the quality of experiencing art online. Special emphasis is put on the effective presentation of the artwork and the usability of the website. Visitors can get an exhibition feel when viewing a tour of the whole gallery or use the zoom-tool to explore even the smallest details of an artwork. The “artfinder” allows users to browse artwork according to some criteria such as medium, price and colour. “Visitors can access our gallery anytime and from everywhere,” says Sophie Charlotte, “and if they like something they can share it with friends. Some choose and buy an artwork on their own and others call us for consultation. Just because it’s virtual it doesn’t have to be anonymous, but it can be.” In addition to its presence in the internet Reign of Art also acts as a “floating gallery” and regularly organizes temporary exhibitions in different cities. The first exhibition took place in Berlin in January 2011 and the second one is scheduled for June in Frankfurt.

Make your passion your profession

Involved in artistic development of talented artists

The young gallery profiles newcomer artists before they gain popularity in the art scene.

Sometimes Sophie Charlotte and Erika are asked how come two business students decided to launch a gallery. “The main reason is our interest in art and the art market,” says Erika, “and actually Reign of Art, as any startup, has many aspects that require the art of entrepreneurship and business management. We feel very privileged to be able to apply our academic knowledge to making our passion our profession. Isn’t that what so many of us are dreaming of?” l

ESCP Europe Magazine N° 137 - Juillet 2011

ESCP Europe Alumni Magazine - n°137 - Juillet 2011

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of ESCP Europe Alumni Magazine - n°137 - Juillet 2011