Tuuum, pronounced \’tüm\, refers to a Futurist sound poem by Filippo Tommaso Marinetti. Marinetti’s freely navigating words and creative use of typography made sounds become visible. Tuuum communicates creativity and freedom in a single, onomatopoetic syllable that imitates a natural sound and breaks away from traditional syntax and literal expression.
Though the internet era has brought radical change to many industries, the art market has evolved very little over the past decade. The same opaque system continues to dictate the rules of supply and demand even at a time when e-commerce sites for art are quickly populating the net. Most of the current online players, especially in the emerging art segment, are replicating the traditional gallery/dealer system without addressing any of the issues artists and perspective collectors face.
Access to distribution channels, financial independence, secondary market development and network expansion are some of the problems emerging artists consistently voice. Furthermore, aspiring collectors are cautious to acquire emerging art due to a lack of market transparency, limited access to talent, little direct contact with artists, a problematic secondary market and a fragmented social experience.
Tuuum approaches these problems transversally by merging four key features into a single, comprehensive solution. With an artist-run community to address transparency, access to talent and social experience issues; a commission rewards system for financial independence and networking opportunities; interactive/social tools to reinforce artist discovery and community benefits; a secondary market for stronger financial independence for artists and a better value proposition for collectors, Tuuum provides unique opportunities to collectors and artists alike.
The primary market refers to the first time an artwork enters the market by being sold directly by the artist that created it. All artwork must enter Tuuum through the primary market.
Once the artwork is purchased in the primary market, it enters the secondary market. This change of status will be reflected both as a movement on the artist's profile page and as a new addition to the collector's personal collection. Any resale of the artwork thereafter will be considered a secondary market transaction.
Artist Connectors are individuals selected by Tuuum to help build artist communities in cities around the world. These cities are selected strategically, based on the concentration of artistic production in the region. Artist Connectors propose a list of artist to bring into Tuuum’s network. This list is then randomly submitted to four other artist connectors for feedback on the quality of the artists. In this way there is an additional level of screening from Tuuum’s community before artists are invited to join.
If you are interested in helping Tuuum build-up its artist community in your city, contact us at artist@tuuum.com.
Tuuum does not claim ownership rights on the content you upload to the platform. For more information on how Tuuum uses your Content please refer to Tuuum's Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
All artwork must be accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity from the artist. The Certificate of Authenticity guarantees the authenticity of the artwork. It includes information such as title, artist name, year, dimensions, method, substrate, finish type, notes and the date in which the work was first sold. For prints, the edition type, total number in the edition, assigned number, print method and ink type are also included. The Certificate of Authenticity is signed by the artist and must stay with the artwork even when it is resold in the secondary market. If you receive an artwork that is not accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity please contact us at contact@tuuum.com.
Joining and setting up a profile, for both artists and collectors, on Tuuum is free.
Artists are required to set up a PayPal account in order to receive their earnings and commissions on Tuuum. Collectors who want to resell an artwork in the secondary market must also set up a PayPal account in order receive payment on their sales.
Tuuum only needs to know the email address that the PayPal account is linked to.
Send us an email at report@tuuum.com.
There are three ways for you to join Tuuum if you're an artist:
1. Receive an invitation from a fellow artists.
2. Receive an invitation from an Artist Connector in your city.
3. Request an invitation from an Artist Connector. You can only request one invitation at a time. If you do not receive a response on your first request, you have to wait one week before sending a request to another Connector.
These are the only ways to enter Tuuum as an artist at this time.
No, each artist can only have one account on Tuuum. Even if you receive multiple invitations on different email accounts, you are only allowed one account for selling your work on the platform.
Inviting other artists helps you expand your network and consequently your earnings. You will receive a small commission on the sales of the artists you invite (and the artists they invite). More specifically, you will earn 6% from your 1° connections (artists you directly invited), 3% from 2° connections (artists the artists you invited invited), 2% from 3° connections (artists invited by your 2° connections) and 1% from 4° connections (artists invited by your 3° connections). The more artists you invite, the greater your network becomes and the higher your earnings.
Each artist is granted one free invitation upon registration. Your artist's first sale will unlock another invitation for you to use to extend your network. Referral invitations are valid for 7 days. If after 7 days your invitation isn't accepted, you can either resend it or invite someone else.
If you want to invite fellow artists to join Tuuum, sign in and go to the drop down menu below your name in the upper right hand corner of your browser window. Click on Referrals and enter the email of the artist you want to invite.
At this time, only individual artists can join Tuuum as sellers in the primary market. No agents, galleries or representatives can have an artist profile page.
Check your SPAM/JUNK folder to make sure the email wasn't misplaced. If you are still unable to receive the activation email, please send an email to tech@tuuum.com.
You will have to fill all the required fields in order to create your profile on Tuuum. We recommend providing accurate information to facilitate sales.
You should include information about yourself, your influences, your work and research. If you've won any awards, attended residencies or have your work in public or private collections, this is all information you could include in your bio.
We recommend that you upload a real photograph of yourself because collectors are more likely to buy artwork if they can put a face to your name.
To cancel your account just send an email to tech@tuuum.com. Once your account has been cancelled, your connections will become direct connections of the artist that invited you to join Tuuum and all future commissions will be distributed to their referral network, you will no longer receive any commissions.
For now you can only sell original works of art under $5000 in one of the following media: painting, drawing, photography, print and mixed media. Video, Sculpture or other media are not included at this time.
When you first create your profile, you will be able to upload up to ten artworks. Three must be below $1000 and the rest can be anywhere below $5000. Every time you sell an artwork, three new slots will become available to upload three additional artworks at any price point below $5000. This potentially gives you an unlimited number of slots (increasing proportionally with your sales). At any given time at least three works in your primary market must be below $1000 so if you don’t have at least three works below $1000, you will not be able to list a new work priced over $1000.
In the beginning we think it's important to concentrate on a specific segment of the market in order to build a strong, dedicated following. In this way artists have the opportunity to gradually build a transparent track record of online sales that encourages portfolio growth and continuity in pricing. This kind of offering could help create traction, build recognition and create more value for everyone.
We recommend being realistic about your pricing. If you haven't previously sold work, try to base your pricing on objective parameters such as time, labor and cost of materials. If you've won awards or prizes, these could weigh in on the final price of your artwork. Try comparing your pricing to the pricing of similar work on Tuuum.
Yes, at least at the beginning, we recommend offering a range of work at different sizes, prices and media so that you can gauge your collectors' needs. You only have ten slots so choose the artwork strategically. Once you see what sells, it's up to you to decide if you want to offer more or less variety.
- Photo - Title - Price ($) - Year Made - Size (in or cm) - Orientation - Colors (atleast one and up to three) - Medium - Description - Styles/Genres (atleast one and up to three) - Shipping Options
You should create a single listing, specifying the total number of prints in the edition [maximum of 100 (for requests to adjust the maximum number of prints of a specific Artwork, please contact Tuuum at artist@tuuum.com)] along with the remaining number of prints for sale on Tuuum (this number will automatically adjust every time a print a sold on Tuuum).
Your image must be a jpeg and at least 1500 pixels in width or 1600 pixels in height.
1. Hang the artwork or prop it up against the wall. 2. Make sure the lens of your camera is parallel to the artwork, there shouldn't be a tilt. 3. Use a tripod or a flat surface to keep the camera steady. 4. Use soft lighting (overcast), don't use flash. Window light is good, but try to get even light, not just one sided. If you are indoors, turn off the lights. 5. Clean any smudges off of the lense and the artwork. 6. Set ISO to 100 or 200. 7. Leave as little space as possible around the edges of your canvas and the frame in order to maximize the resolution. Also, try to zoom-in a little. 8. Adjust the white balance to make sure you're getting the right colors. 9. Use a self-timer to keep the camera as still as possible. 10. Set the aperture to f8 11. Take the photo! 12. If it looks too bright or too dark, use your camera's exposure compensation to adjust it. 13. Transfer the images to your computer. 14. Use Picasa, iPhoto or Photoshop to crop the image. 15. Don't leave any white space around the image; the artwork should take up 100% of the space of the image. 16. Adjust the contrast if needed.
If the artwork is sold offline it must immediately be taken down from Tuuum. The same policy also applies for editions: at the time of an offline sale, you must manually update the remaining number of prints for sale on Tuuum.
Yes, you are required to have a PayPal account in order to receive your monthly payouts in sales and commissions.
Tuuum does not demand exclusivity so if your gallery doesn't have a problem with you selling your work independently, you may use Tuuum freely once you've received an invitation to join.
On sales of your own work, you always receive 60% for the selling price. The artists that referred you to Tuuum take a total of 12% in commissions (1st level 6%, 2nd level 3%, 3rd level 2%, 4th level 1%) and the remaining 28% is used to cover transaction fees, platform costs and Tuuum's commission. If a promotional discount code is offered, the amount is deducted from Tuuum's commission.
No
You automatically forfeit any and all future commissions you are entitled to.
You will receive all earnings and commissions relative to your account at the end of each month for transactions finalized on that same month. In the primary market a transaction is considered final when the ten-day trial period is over. In the secondary market a transaction is final three business days after the collector receives the artwork. You will receive all payments through your PayPal account.
Commission earned refers to the TOTAL commissions earned over time in relation to a specific artist you invited to Tuuum. Commissions to be paid out are commissions that Tuuum will pay out to you at the end of the month in relation to that artist.
Yes, you are responsible for paying all taxes on artwork you sell on Tuuum. You must calculate sales tax and include it in the shipping and handling fees of each individual artwork. The buyer will pay for all sales tax, shipping and handling expenses and Tuuum will collect and forward them to you at the end of the payment cycle along with your share of the face value of the artwork. You are solely responsible for determining your applicable tax collecting and reporting requirements. Tuuum cannot and does not offer tax-related advice. For more information please refer to Tuuum's Terms of Use.
The trial period only applies to the primary market. Secondary market sales are final. After the collector has received the artwork, if they are not fully satisfied with the purchase, they can send it back. They must do so within 10 calendar days following delivery. The artwork must be returned in the same condition as received, accompanied by the Certificate of Authenticity. The collector will notify Tuuum of the return using the appropriate form on the site and provide a tracking number for the return shipment. The collector will be responsible for return shipping expenses. Once the artwork is successfully delivered to the artist, Tuuum will reimburse the collector for the cost of the artwork (including sales tax), withholding initial shipping and handling costs.
In this case the collector will have 3 business days to file an "item not as described' or "item damaged" case. Once Tuuum has approved the petition, the collector will be asked to provide photographs showing any discrepancies or problems with the order. Once proof has been received and confirmed, the collector will have 3 business days to send the artwork back to the artist and provide the tracking number of the return shipment. The artist will be liable all shipping expenses. For further information on disputes, please refer to Tuuum's Terms of Use.
You must ship the order and provide a tracking number within 3 business days after the order is placed.
You should define reasonable shipping and handling fees to cover the costs for packaging and mailing the artwork based on the country to which it will be shipped. We recommend getting an estimate for shipping each artwork in advance by contacting UPS, USPS or your preferred courier. USPS does not ship very large packages so UPS may be your only option if your work is too large. You must use a 100% traceable shipping method that provides signature confirmation at delivery. If you use USPS to ship internationally, do not use "First Class International Mail" as it is not traceable once the package leaves the United States. We recommend using USPS Priority Mail International. Also remember that for the time being sales taxes must be included with shipping and handling fees. More information on how to include sales tax in your order can be found here.
The choice of countries to which to offer shipping is at your discretion. You should not charge excessive shipping and handling fees. For international shipping, you will have to fill out the appropriate customs forms and the collector will be responsible for paying any relative duties.
You should take every precaution to make sure your artwork arrives to its destination undamaged. As the sender you are responsible for the package's safety. Many shippers will only replace your artwork if it is lost, not damaged; safe packaging is key. Insurance is not included in the fees paid by the buyer so if you purchase insurance, you will have to sustain the cost. For international shipping you will need to print out the receipt (provided to you by Tuuum when the order is placed) and tape it to the outside of the package with transparent packaging tape. If you are not familiar with art shipping best practice, we recommend consulting a professional art shipper or purchasing an AirFloat or Masterpak art-shipping box. There are also numerous online resources your can consult on how to safely package artwork. If you still have questions regarding shipping, please contact us at artist@tuuum.com.
1. Your work should be well photographed. 2. Offer a variety of artwork in terms of price, size, medium and subject. 3. Always provide true and accurate information on your work. 4. Be flexible. If you see that certain artworks aren't selling, list something else.
Use your personalized URL to tell people about your page on Tuuum. Print it on your business card, publish it to your website, share it on Facebook and Twitter. Get friends and collectors to like and share your work, the more activity we track on your page, the higher it will come up on Tuuum's search results. Keep your page active; this is the key to increasing traffic.
Your profile page on Tuuum is a great way to gain visibility, build your network and find new collectors. Remember to always keep your profile updated and to share news with your followers and appreciators.
Creating a collector account on Tuuum is simple and free. Just click on “start collecting” and create your account by entering a valid email address, username and password. Once your account is set-up you can personalize your profile page and start collecting!
You will have to fill all the required fields in order to create your profile on Tuuum.
You can use the search box at the top of the homepage to search by artist or collector.
To cancel your account just send an email to tech@tuuum.com.
Yes, you will need to create an account using a valid mail address, username and password.
You can either use the search box at the top of the homepage to search by artist, artwork or keyword, or click on “Shop” to use filters to look through Tuuum’s browse page.
To place an order click on the artwork and then select BUY ARTWORK. You will be guided through a few simple steps where you will be asked to provide shipping and payment details. When the transaction is complete the system will provide you with an order number and you will also receive an email confirmation of the purchase.
If your order is a gift, check "This order is a gift" on your shopping cart page. The gift will be accompanied by a Gift Message. You can edit the Gift Message or keep Tuuum's standard message. The recipient of your gift will have the opportunity to claim the work under his/her account for their collections and Tuuum's secondary market. They will be able to do this using a claim code that will accompany the gift with instructions on how to use it.
If you don't already have an account on Tuuum, you will need to create one by clicking on "JOIN". Once you have created your account, go to "My Dashboard" (below your name in the upper right hand corner of the menu). From there, click on the "COLLECTIONS" tab and then on "Enter Claim Code". Enter your claim code and the artwork will automatically appear in your personal collection. From your dashboard you will also be able to adjust RESALE OPTIONS for the artwork.
Tuuum accepts all major credit cards.
A CVV code is the three digit number on the back of your credit card.
Items will remain in your shopping cart until you complete your order.
Please contact tech@tuuum.com immediately.
You can check your order status by following the link provided in the order confirmation email.
Receiving time varies based on the origin and destination of the artwork. Customs or clearance time for international orders might further delay delivery. Use the tracking number provided by the sender to follow the status of your order.
Shipping costs are covered by the buyer and are calculated by the seller based on the destination, size and weight of the package.
Sales tax is estimated by the seller based on your location.
Yes, shipments to foreign countries must go through customs and are therefore subject to customs fees. Customs fees are the buyer's responsibility so please check with your country's customs office to determine what these costs will be prior to completing your order.
We are committed to offering the best quality fine art. We offer a ten day trial period so if you’re not 100% satisfied with your order, you can return the artwork to the artist for a full refund (excluding shipping and handling fees). The trial period only applies to the primary market, all secondary market sales are final.
We offer a 10-day trial period on primary market sales. Artwork that is eligible for return must be shipped back to the artist 10 days following its delivery date in its original condition, packaging and accompanied by the Certificate of Authenticity. You must notify Tuuum of the return using the appropriate form on the site, where you must also include the tracking code of the return shipment. Always use a traceable shipping method, Tuuum is not responsible for undelivered returns. Please consult the SELLING F.A.Q. section below for more information on how to properly package an artwork. As the sender you are responsible for the package’s safety. Many shippers will only replace the artwork if it is lost, not damaged; safe packaging is key. Once the return is processed, Tuuum will reimburse you for the cost of the artwork, including any sales tax applied by the seller. Shipping and handling fees will not be reimbursed.
In this case you will have 3 business days to file an "item not as described' or "item damaged" case. Once Tuuum has approved the petition, you will be asked to provide photographs showing any discrepancies or problems with the order. Once proof has been received and confirmed, you will have 3 business days to send the artwork back to the artist and provide the tracking number of the return shipment. The artist will be liable all shipping expenses. For further information on disputes, please refer to Tuuum's Terms of Use.
Phone orders are not available at this time. If you have any questions or concerns regarding your order, please contact us at contact@tuuum.com..
All Artworks are accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity from the Artist. The Certificate of Authenticity guarantees the authenticity of the work of art as described by the artist that created it. The Certificate of Authenticity includes the title of the work, the name of the artist, the year it was created, the method, substrate, finish type used and first sale date. For limited edition fine art prints, information about the edition type, total number in the edition, assigned number, print method and ink type is also included.
Once the artwork is purchased in the primary market, it enters the secondary market. This change of status will be reflected both as a movement on the artist's profile page (from primary to secondary market) and as a new addition to the collector's online personal collection. Any resale of the artwork thereafter will be considered a secondary market transaction.
Once the checkout process for buying an artwork in the primary market is complete, you will be asked to select one of the following options in order to setup your secondary market: 1. Up for resale: visible on your profile & public price. (recommended) 2. Up for resale: visible on your profile & undisclosed price. 3. Not for sale: visible on your profile & undisclosed price. 4. Not for sale: not visible on your profile & undisclosed price. You can adjust the secondary market status of each artwork in your online personal collection at any time by going to your Dashboard. More specifically, this is what each of these scenarios means: 1. The artwork will immediately be displayed in your online personal collection (artwork bought on Tuuum) with its last recorded price and once the trial period is over, other collectors will have the possibility to make you an offer on the work. We recommend displaying the last recorded price because it's the most transparent option and will help you receive more bids. 2. The artwork will immediately be displayed in your online personal collection (artwork bought on Tuuum) without disclosing its price and once the trial period is over, other collectors will have the opportunity to bid on the work. 3. The artwork will immediately be displayed in your online personal collection (artwork bought on Tuuum) and marked as not for sale. 4. The artwork will not be displayed in your online personal collection (artwork bought on Tuuum) and there will therefore be no public online record associating the purchase to your profile page. If you choose option 1 or 2 and you receive an offer, Tuuum will send you a notification and you will need to decide whether to accept or reject it within 3 business days. The offer made is legally binding, the moment in which you accept it, the buyer's credit card will be charged the agreed amount. Tuuum will send the buyer confirmation and you will need to ship the artwork within 3 business days.
Once the checkout process for buying a gift is complete, you will be asked whether you want the price to be visible to the recipient or not. Based on what you select, the recipient will be able to list their gift in Tuuum's secondary market accordingly: 1. Up for sale: visible on your profile & public price. (only available if you chose to make the price visible to the recipient) 2. Up for resale: visible on your profile & undisclosed price. 3. Not for sale: visible on your profile & undisclosed price. 4. Not for sale: not visible on your profile & undisclosed price. The recipient will be able to adjust the secondary market status of each artwork in their online personal collection at any time by going to their Dashboard. Offers for gifts work exactly as they do for personal purchases, the recipient of the gift will receive offers and must decide whether to accept or reject them within 3 business days. Offers made are legally binding, the moment in which they are accepted, the buyer's credit card will be charged the agreed amount. Tuuum will send the buyer confirmation and the seller will need to ship the artwork within 3 business days.
In the Secondary Market, you can accept offers on all artworks you have purchased on Tuuum.
No, only artwork that was purchased on Tuuum can be resold in Tuuum’s secondary market.
Yes, all sales in the secondary market are final unless an “item not as described” or “item damaged” form is submitted within two business days of delivery. Once the two business days are up, the sale is final and Tuuum releases the funds both to the Seller and to the artist who created the artwork in accordance with Tuuum's Terms of Use.
You must ship the order and provide a tracking number within 3 business days after the order is confirmed (as soon as you accept the offer).
You do not need to define shipping fees and sales tax in the secondary market, these are to be estimated by the buyer and included in the offer they make for the artwork.
Yes, you are responsible for paying all taxes on artwork you resell on Tuuum. Based on the offer you receive from a buyer, you must calculate the part that should go to cover sales tax based on your location and the location of the buyer. Tuuum will collect and forward you the agreed amount (minus 20% for original artist royalties and Tuuum's commission & fees) at the end of the payment cycle. You are solely responsible for determining your applicable tax collecting and reporting requirements. Tuuum cannot and does not offer tax-related advice. For more information please refer to Tuuum's Terms of Use.
You should take every precaution to make sure your artwork arrives to its destination undamaged. As the sender you are responsible for the package's safety. Many shippers will only replace your artwork if it is lost, not damaged; safe packaging is key. Insurance is not included in the fees paid by the buyer so if you purchase insurance, you will have to sustain the cost. For international shipping you will need to print out the receipt (provided to you by Tuuum when the order is placed) and tape it to the outside of the package with transparent packaging tape. If you are not familiar with art shipping best practice, we recommend consulting a professional art shipper or purchasing an AirFloat or Masterpak art-shipping box. There are also numerous online resources your can consult on how to safely package artwork. If you still have questions regarding shipping, please contact us at artist@tuuum.com.
A virtual collection is a compilation of work that you virtually collect on Tuuum that appears on your personal profile page. You can add a work to your virtual collection by clicking on the COLLECT button on the artwork page or on the COLLECT icon in the upper right hand corner of any thumbnail. To remove a work from your collection just re-click the COLLECT button or icon.
LIKE is associated with the heart-shaped icon and can be used by any registered collector to show that they like a specific artwork. Liking a specific artwork helps it's popularity in search results, adds the artwork to the collector's LIKE tab and adds the collector in the list of users that like the artwork. COLLECT is associated with a square-shaped icon and can be used by any registered collector to add an artwork to their virtual collection. You don't have to LIKE an artwork for it to be part of your virtual collection and vice versa. For example you can LIKE 123 artworks but only have 20 in your virtual collection. The virtual collection is mainly for artwork that you could see yourself one day buying and that perhaps has some kind of greater meaning for you whereas the selection of artwork you LIKE can be a lot wider.
A personal collection is a record on your profile page of all the artwork you have purchased on Tuuum.
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