Digital Art Markets, Online Galleries, and the Transformation of the Nigerian Art Trade

The emergence of digital art markets and online gallery platforms has transformed how artworks are bought, sold, and valued, with significant implications for the accessibility of the market, the geographic reach of Nigerian artists, and the economics of the art trade. This study examines the impact of digital art market platforms and online galleries on the Nigerian art trade, focusing on the experiences of artists, gallery operators, and collectors who have engaged with digital market channels since 2019. Primary data are gathered from 50 artists, 15 online gallery operators, and 25 art collectors in Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt through structured questionnaires and in-depth interviews. The study assesses the platforms used, transaction volumes and values achieved through digital channels, the types of collectors reached online, pricing transparency changes, and the logistics of physical artwork delivery in the context of digital sales. The theoretical framework draws on art market economics, the digital economy literature, and the cultural industries scholarship on platform-mediated creative commerce. The study examines whether online market access has expanded opportunities for artists outside Lagos who were previously disadvantaged by geographic distance from gallery clusters, providing an equity dimension to the analysis. Recent literature has identified non-fungible token platforms as a disruptive force in African digital art markets that warrants specific investigation. Findings are expected to inform gallery operators, the Society of Nigerian Artists, and cultural economy policy advocates on digital market development. Keywords: digital art market, online gallery, Nigerian art trade, creative economy, digital commerce