Saatchi Art Review

Sunday, April 20th

2025 Wall Art Reviews

Saatchi Art

• Hosts over 1.5 million artworks from around 100,000 artists worldwide, including paintings and sculptures, each with a Certificate of Authenticity
• Free Art Advisory service offering tailored recommendations, and an interactive quiz for customized art suggestions
• Easy browsing through categories and exhibitions, with a feature to create personal Collections of favorite artworks
• Filter by various criteria like style and price, plus a Visual Search tool for discovering similar artworks
• "The Other Art Fair" provides a platform to meet and support emerging artists in major cities globally
• Strong Trustpilot rating, praised for quick shipping and effective artist support
• Collaborative art commissioning with progress updates and a 50% upfront deposit
• Offers returns for store credit or partial refund, with specific conditions for special commissions and framed works
• Varied shipping times based on artwork and destination, with secure packaging to protect the art during transit

Based in Los Angeles, Saatchi Art showcases an impressive array of over 1.5 million artworks from nearly 100,000 artists across the globe. From captivating paintings to unique sculptures, Saatchi Art offers a little bit of everything for art enthusiasts and collectors. Each original piece comes with a Certificate of Authenticity, ensuring its legitimacy, while prints are offered as quality reproductions for more affordable prices.

Consult a curator

Saatchi's Art Advisory service is, as one collector put it, it's "the art world equivalent of having Anna Wintour come clothes shopping with you.” Here's how it works: after you answer a brief questionnaire about your art preferences, their expert curators, well-versed in various art and design aspects, get to work. They consider your responses on preferred categories like painting, drawing, sculpture, or photography, your style choices - maybe you're into Abstract, Street Art, or Realism - and even specifics like artwork orientation, size, and budget.

No advisory fees

In 2-3 business days, your personal curator, who could be anyone from Rebecca Wilson, an expert in emerging artists, to Erin Remington with her modern art history prowess, will reach out with a curated selection of about 30 artworks. This selection is tailored just for you, ensuring a range that's diverse yet aligned with your tastes. Whether it's Megan Wright's design and sales insight or India Balyejusa's combination of art history and education, each curator brings a unique perspective to the table. The aim is not just to pick wall art but to find pieces that resonate with you and enhance your space. To top it off, this service doesn't cost you a penny in advisory fees.

Fun quiz to narrow down choices

If you'd rather not speak to a curator just yet, you can take Saatchi Art's quiz, "Find Art for Your Design Style”. It's a quick and easy way to discover art that aligns with your personal taste and home decor. It guides you through simple questions about your preferences in color, patterns, materials, and even your dream destination, along with the architectural style of your home. You'll also pick out your favorite room aesthetics and artworks from a few images. Once you complete the quiz and enter your email, you'll receive personalized wall art recommendations from Saatchi Art's curators, tailored to your unique style, making the whole process of finding that perfect piece for your space both fun and effortless.

Browse however you like

When you arrive on the homepage, you have a few ways to start shopping: explore this week's newest additions, browse a curated selection, or go straight to the curator herself for a consultation. You can also always shop by category laid out on the page (including Paintings, Photography, Fine Art Prints, and Sculpture). During a visit to the site, curated exhibitions such as "Arresting Abstracts" and "Love Letters to the Planet" were on display. The 54 artworks in the latter exhibition were all unique but cohesive at the same time. Our favorite was "Autumn Tree under Moon" by Thomas Lamb, a UK artist. There were lots of paintings we wanted to come back to later, which is why we appreciate Saatchi's Collections feature.

Save your inspirations

On Saatchi Art, creating Collections offers a personalized approach to organizing and showcasing your favorite artworks, different from the usual "save-for-later” feature on other websites. You can start a collection either from your Collections page or while browsing artwork thumbnails, choosing between Community Collections for various artists' works, or Portfolio Collections for artists to add their own pieces. Collections can be public or private, and adding or removing artworks is as simple as clicking a button. For instance, if you're an interior designer looking for inspiration, you can create different collections based on themes or color schemes, making it easier to visualize and present ideas to clients. This feature not only helps in organizing your wall art preferences but also in curating a personalized gallery that reflects your style or professional needs.

Easy to search and filter

If you're up for exploring everything Saatchi Art has to offer, you can do that, too. Want to filter for wall art from a specific country, or in a particular color or size? No problem. There are filters for orientation, price, material, and medium too, so you can really zero in on what you're looking for. And the style options are extensive - think everything from Fine Art to Abstract, Modern to Figurative, and styles like Abstract Expressionism, Realism, Minimalism, Pop Art, and so much more. In terms of price, it ranges from $135 to $103,000.

Visual Search is better than Pinterest

The Visual Search feature on Saatchi Art's website is really impressive. It starts by showing you a random selection from their extensive catalog. Let's say a certain piece catches your eye, maybe because of its color scheme or subject matter, but it's not quite what you're after, or perhaps it is, and you're looking for similar works to complement it. With just a click on the artwork, you're shown a range of similar paintings. And if you feel like starting over with a different piece, simply hit "restart” for a fresh array of options. What's really handy is that you can filter these selections by size or price range to suit your specific needs. Honestly, the way this feature works is so intuitive and enjoyable, we could see it becoming a go-to for art browsing and inspiration, potentially even replacing Pinterest for some art enthusiasts.

See the art in person

"The Other Art Fair," presented by Saatchi Art, is more than just an art fair; it's a vital platform supporting over 1,600 emerging artists annually in cities like London, Los Angeles, and Sydney. Picture yourself wandering through the fair in places like Brooklyn or Melbourne, engaging with artists and exploring a curated selection of over 2,000 artworks. This fair isn't just about browsing and buying; it's an opportunity for art enthusiasts to directly support up-and-coming talents. As you chat with the artists and learn about their work, you become part of their growth story. For those keen on discovering unique pieces and supporting the next big names in art, this fair offers a chance to connect with artists at the start of their careers, making it both a rewarding experience for shoppers and a crucial stepping stone for artists. If The Other Art Fair is being hosted in a city near you, it could be worth checking out.

An art revolution

Both buyers and artists have high praise for Saatchi Art, highlighting it as a valuable platform for art discovery and career growth. Buyers often express gratitude for being introduced to new artists and artworks, like beautiful gouache paintings by Charlotte Evans, noting how Saatchi Art has made collecting art, even for those without huge budgets, an accessible and satisfying experience. They appreciate the ease of the entire process, from finding a piece they love to getting it on their walls, often likening it to having a personal art assistant. Artists, on the other hand, credit Saatchi Art for significantly expanding their reach and providing career-changing opportunities. Many artists have sold works internationally through Saatchi Art, with some noting that it's the best online platform for artists, effectively acting as their personal gallery. The impact of Saatchi Art on their confidence and understanding of the power of the internet in art promotion is frequently mentioned, with artists feeling supported and part of what they describe as an art revolution.

High ratings on Trustpilot for customer service

Saatchi Art enjoys a 4.3 rating from 9,000+ reviews on Trustpilot. Customers share stories of how artworks, even those shipped internationally, arrive quicker than expected, beautifully exceeding their online representations. And then there's the ease of communication - Saatchi Art keeps you in the loop about everything, from when the artist will ship your piece to any details you might want to discuss directly with the artist. For many, the joy of supporting independent artists worldwide, particularly from countries with limited opportunities, is a significant draw. Affordability is another highlight, with high-quality art fitting comfortably into varied budgets, enhanced by the perk of free shipping. These positive experiences contribute to Saatchi Art's strong reputation among art enthusiasts and collectors.

Stay in the loop during a commission

When you commission a piece of art through Saatchi Art, the process is both thorough and collaborative. Initially, they'll ask for a non-refundable deposit of 50% of the artwork's price. This upfront payment, crucially, includes the cost of shipping, though it's important to remember that any taxes will be added later on in the final invoice. If it fits the style of the artist, they'll also arrange for you to approve some preliminary sketches before the artist gets down to creating the actual work. This is part of their commitment to keeping you in the loop throughout the process. They stay in close contact with the artist, asking for progress photos to make sure everything is going as planned. Once the artwork is finished and you give it the thumbs up, you'll pay the remaining 50% of the cost (plus any customs or duties that might apply). After that, your commissioned artwork is all set to be shipped to you. This process ensures that what you envision is what you receive, with clear communication and collaboration every step of the way.

14-day satisfaction guarantee

With Saatchi Art, if an original artwork doesn't quite win your heart, you have a 14-day window from the time you receive it to decide. You can choose a full store credit or get a refund minus a 20% processing fee. In case the artwork arrives damaged or not as expected, there's an option for a full refund. Organizing a return is easy through their Contact Us form, but remember, it must be in the original packaging. Keep in mind, though, that special commissions, limited and open editions, and frames are final sales and can't be returned. Also, any modifications like stretching or cropping make the artwork ineligible for return. Saatchi Art's policy is designed to make sure you're not just content but delighted with your art, offering peace of mind with every purchase.

Allow 2-3 weeks for processing and shipping

When you order from Saatchi Art, the shipping timelines vary depending on what you buy. Original artworks and limited edition prints typically take 11 to 14 business days to process and ship, factoring in both the origin and destination of the artwork, plus any time needed for customs clearance for international shipments. From the shipping date, it usually takes another 7 to 10 business days for the artwork to reach you. Unframed prints, shipped from the U.S., are dispatched within 3 to 5 business days, and if you're in the U.S., they should arrive within 7 to 10 business days. Framed prints also ship from the U.S. and take about 5 to 7 business days to dispatch, reaching U.S. buyers in 10 to 12 business days. For international buyers, customs requirements of your country might affect the delivery speed.

Safe packaging

The way your artwork will be shipped depends on the piece. Artworks are shipped directly from the artists and could come in a sturdy cardboard box, a wooden crate for larger pieces, or a dent-resistant tube, especially for oversized works. These shipping methods are chosen to ensure the artwork's safety and integrity during transit, whether it's flat-packed, crated, or rolled. Upon arrival, especially for works on paper, it's recommended to take them to a professional framer for careful handling. Check the product description to find out which shipping method applies to your artwork.

Fun and accessible

To wrap up, Saatchi Art does a fantastic job of making high-quality wall art accessible. With its enormous collection that spans a global network of artists, the platform excels in offering something for everyone, from unique originals to more affordable prints. We love the different ways to explore their catalog, and the free advisory service is a perk. The non-refundable deposit for commissioned works might be a consideration for some buyers, but all in all, Saatchi Art stands out as a go-to spot for art lovers of all stripes. Whether you're just starting to dip your toes into the art world, or you're a seasoned collector, Saatchi Art is an excellent source. They make exploring and buying art not just easy, but also a whole lot of fun. They earn a very high rating in our review.