Instagram is revolutionizing the art world

The social network of the moment isn't just changing who we connect with, it's also one of those ideal channels for anyone who wants to know a lot more about the art world or, better still, who happens to be an artist. Because an artist who isn't on Instagram today doesn't exist. Unless you're an established painter, sculptor or visual artist, the rest will have to work harder to keep up a digital presence. But what do you get out of it if you're an art lover? The chance to see new artworks all the time, to keep up with the collections of your favourite museums and with exhibitions. All of it is part of a new network that's ideal for anyone who wants to discover new artists, and for artists looking for a new place to promote their art.

A new generation of artists is emerging on Instagram

You only have to add hashtags like #painting #pintura #sculpture or similar to realize just how much this is the future when it comes to art shop windows. Many of the new artists are reaching an audience they'd only find in specialized online galleries.

So, if you're thinking about setting up an artist profile, there are a few pieces of advice you should keep in mind first if you want to reach more people:

• Rellena completamente los datos.
• El perfil debe ser escueto, directo y sencillo. 
• La fotografía de perfil es tu tarjeta de presentación. Si eres pintor, puedes colocar un autorretrato, por ejemplo, 
• Cambia la cuenta a modo empresa en cuanto te sea posible. 
• Enlaza con tu cuenta de facebook (debe hacerse desde la página de facebook). 
• Establece un horario para publicar las imágenes. También puedes añadir stories y vídeos rápidos del “making off”, cuando acudes a eventos en tiempo real, etcétera. 
• Es muy importante que se rellene la descripción de cada imagen y que se elijan bien los hashtags. Estos se pueden encontrar por defecto en páginas web que especifican los más usados dentro de una especialidad. 
• Las stories destacadas son importantes para que dividas entre colecciones, series, eventos y demás. También puedes incluir aquí tu pequeña “tienda online”. 

On top of all this, a good community of followers isn't built overnight, so it's highly advisable to follow other users who might be interested in art or related subjects. Don't go overboard picking them and never unfollow someone once they've followed you. Be patient, interact with users and, in time, you'll see the results.

Digital artists worth keeping an eye on

Beyond the noise the influencers are making and the controversy their lifestyle brings with it, Instagram is revolutionizing the art world. Being a shop window for thousands of artists all over the world means anyone can get themselves noticed. Which is why it's becoming an alternative place to find new talent. In the same way, we can find museums that have decided to join the community of instagramers. That's the case, for example, with the Museum of Ice Cream in the USA, which already has around 400,000 followers, among many others.

We don't know whether Instagram will be another passing fad like Facebook was (which has less and less credibility among internet users), but what we do know is that few social networks offer the chance to show your work and have it valued.