Frequently Asked Questions

I know what I like, but not what I want – what should I do?

The best place to start is to browse through the gallery on our Home page. The default order of this gallery is randomly set each day, so you will see different artwork at the top if you visit us regularly. When you find something that you think you might like, click on it to obtain related detail. Clicking on an artwork also provides a number of tools to help you extend your search. Some of these tools allow you to look at the artwork in greater detail, search for other artwork similar to your current selection, see how the artwork would look on your wall, and other examples of the artist's work (more limited options are available on mobile phones). You can also add the artwork to your favourites list or put it in your shopping basket.

I have a specific place in mind to hang a new artwork – can Artifuse help me find something to match?

The 'suggestions' option in the menu at the top of the screen will take you to a page where you can upload an image of the wall for which you would like to find an original piece of art. Once you have supplied an image, you will be asked for details describing the dimensions of the wall, where you would like the artwork hung, and optionally what colour you would like the piece to be. We will then search through our portfolio for pieces that may suit. Clicking on any artwork displayed in our list of suggestions will show you how it might look on your wall, and provides access to options for obtaining additional detail.

I have a range of specific things I am looking for – how can Artifuse help?

Our Home page has a wide range of search options to help you find what you are looking for. Look for the search options listed under 'Artwork Preferences' on our Home page. These options permit you to search by price, size, colour, keywords, and more. Some of the criteria will limit what you see (e.g. by defining a maximum/minimum price/height/width) and some will order the (remaining) portfolio by how closely each artwork matches your stated preferences. Once you find an artwork that you like, clicking on the image in our Home page gallery will give you access to additional tools to help you extend your search. Some of these tools allow you to look at the artwork in greater detail, search for other artwork similar to your selection, see how the artwork would look on your wall, and other examples of the artist's work (more limited options are available on mobile phones). You can also add the artwork to your favourites list or put it in your shopping basket. If you have multiple pieces of artwork in your favourites, you can also search for artwork that is similar in style to those included in your favourites.

How can I find a specific artist?

There are two possibilities here. If you know the artist's name, then the 'Artwork Preferences' section of our Home page includes a search field for artists. This is hidden when you first arrive on the page, but can be seen by pressing the 'more' icon on the right-hand-side of the screen. Start typing the artist's name, and a menu of artist names currently exhibiting work with Artifuse will appear to help complete your query. Alternatively, if you would like to find details for the artist of a specific artwork displayed on our site, click the gallery image of the artwork and select the 'artist' icon on the right-hand-side of the screen.

What details are available about the seller of each artwork?

When you click on an artwork in one of our galleries, you will see an 'artist' icon on the right-hand-side of the screen. Click on this icon, and it will take you directly to the dedicated page of the seller of the artwork. This page includes a range of information, including the seller's location, a professional biography, and possibly their contact details (if they have made these publicly available).

Is there a way to check what an artwork might look like on a wall in my home?

Click on the gallery image of the artwork you are interested in, and you should find a column of icons displayed on the right-hand-side of your screen. Among those icons, selecting the one that resembles a person holding an artwork in their hands ('see it in my house') will take you to a web page where you can upload a picture of a wall you think you might want to hang the artwork on. After you enter some sizing details for your wall, we will super-impose the image of the artwork onto it. You can then drag the artwork to wherever on your wall you think it would look best – you can also share this montage with your friends by selecting the 'share' icon. If you are signed in, then the image of your wall will be saved to your Artifuse account. If you are not signed-in, then your wall image will be saved to your device in a similar way to a cookie.

I found something I like – is there a way to find similar artwork?

Click on the gallery image of the artwork you are interested in, then look for the 'similar' icon displayed on the right-hand-side of the screen. Selecting this icon will organise our current portfolio so that artworks with similar characteristics (based on size, colour and subject) to the one currently displayed are placed at the top of the Home page gallery.

How do Artifuse's search routines work?

When someone enters a set of criteria into the search fields on the Artifuse Home page, the site evaluates the disparity between each of the entered fields, and the characteristics of each artwork on the site. These measures of 'disparity' across the considered search characteristics are then aggregated up for each artwork, weighting each one in a way that takes into account the decisions we have previously observed people make on the site. Finally, artwork is ranked in ascending order of aggregate disparity with the considered search characteristics. If two pieces are equally ranked, then their rank-order is randomly allocated.

Is there a way to tag artwork that I like so that I can find it later?

You can tag artworks that you like using the 'favourites icon', which is a star displayed on the right-hand-side of the screen after you have clicked on an image in on of our galleries. Sign-in to your Artifuse account to save favourites for future visits. When you are signed-in, artwork that you have previously tagged for inclusion in your favourites list will appear at the top of the Artifuse Home page gallery. What's more, it is possible to use the search tools under 'Artwork Preferences' to find other artworks that are similar in style and subject to your favourites. It takes just a moment to Register for an Artifuse account.

What prices are listed on the site?

There are two prices associated with any artwork displayed for sale on the site. The first is the list price, which is the asking price that a seller has specified for an artwork. The list price is inclusive of all applicable taxes, duties, and commissions. The second is the transport cost for delivery. The transport cost is inclusive of courier and transport insurance charges. Prior to checkout, we provide an estimate for transport costs wherever possible. The actual cost of transport will depend upon the delivery option that you select at checkout, as discussed below. The total price that you will pay to purchase any artwork through Artifuse is the sum of the list and delivery charges, both of which are clearly listed before you submit a payment. For further detail, see our Terms of Service.

How do I purchase artwork through Artifuse?

Making a purchase through Artifuse is simple – click on the desired artwork in any of our on-line galleries and add it to your shopping basket. From there, head to our checkout where you will be asked for a delivery address. You will then be given a menu of delivery alternatives to choose from. Select a delivery method and a preferred payment method, and you will be presented with a full summary of your order. You can then proceed to our payment processing service, after which you will receive confirmation of your order, both on-line and by email.

Do I need an Artifuse account to purchase artwork through the site?

Yes you do, as we use your account details to organise all after-sales services, including delivery, insurance, and refunds. You only need an email address and a few seconds to get set-up. For further details, see our Terms of Service.

What payment methods are accepted?

Artifuse currently accepts payments via Mastercard, Visa, Giropay, EPS, iDeal, Bancontact, Multibanco, and Sofort.

Is the payments system secure?

All communications with Artifuse are encrypted via Transport Layer Security software. We appreciate that on-line payments are especially sensitive, requiring specialist expertise. All of our payments are consequently managed via 'Stripe', a well-established provider of on-line payment services. As all payments are managed by Stripe, your payment details are never stored in any form on our servers. For further details about Stripe, please see their website at https://www.stripe.com.

What if I change my mind after purchasing an artwork?

You can return any artwork purchased from Artifuse by contacting us within 14 days of its delivery. Our Returns Policy is discussed at length below.

How is transportation of an artwork organised?

When you purchase an artwork through Artifuse you need to provide an address for delivery. The site will then provide you with a list of delivery options offered by our partner couriers, from which you can make a selection. Note that all deliveries must be signed for at arrival, and you are responsible for making sure that you take receipt of the artwork as agreed. The tracking details for delivery of the artwork will include contact details for the courier, and you should contact them directly should you wish to change the terms of delivery defined at the point of sale.

Can I pick up my purchase directly from the seller?

Each seller with Artifuse indicates whether they are happy for artwork to be collected from them in person. If this is the case, then the option to collect artwork in person will be included in the list of alternatives provided to you at our on-line checkout. If you choose to collect an artwork in person, then no delivery costs will be included in your bill of purchase, and you will be responsible for arranging a time to collect the artwork at the seller's discretion. Please note that no transport insurance cover is provided for artwork that you collect in person.

What happens after my payment is confirmed?

Emails will be sent to both you and the seller summarising the terms of the sale. If you included courier services for delivery as part of your purchase, then the seller will schedule a time and place for collection. If you did not purchase courier services, then you are responsible for contacting the seller to schedule a time and place (at the seller's discretion) to take delivery. The seller is then responsible for packaging your purchase for transport. If a courier is used for delivery, then Artifuse will email you a tracking number when your purchase has been collected. All courier services require you to sign for your purchase at delivery. If you collect your purchase in person, then you should bring some photo identification with you. Your 14-day returns period begins on the day that you take delivery. After the 14-day returns period expires, the sale is complete.

What if artwork is damaged during transport?

There are two possibilities, which vary depending upon whether Artifuse's partner courier services are used for delivery. If courier services are ordered through Artifuse, then our insurance arrangements cover an artwork while it is in transit (that is, from the time that it is picked-up by the courier until it is delivered). This policy requires you to inform Artifuse of any damage to the artwork as a result of transportation within 2 days of delivery. Alternatively, if a you choose to make your own delivery arrangements – for example, by collecting a piece in person, or using your own courier services for a return – then you assume responsibility for any damage to the artwork while it is in transit. You also assume responsibility for any damage to an artwork while it is in your possession throughout the 14-day returns period.

How is an insurance claim processed?

Any insurance claim for damage to an artwork that is suffered during its out-bound transit with our partner couriers is processed as follows. 1) The buyer sends an email to Artifuse within 2 days of receiving the artwork, stating that it arrived damaged; 2) Artifuse sends an email to both the buyer and seller advising that the sale has been cancelled, and describing the remaining processing procedure (as defined here); 3) Artifuse contacts our couriers to organise delivery to Artifuse; 4) The buyer organises a time and place for the couriers to pick-up the artwork via the respective order summary on our website – the pick-up time must be within 15 days of Artifuse's email acknowledging the buyer's statement that the artwork is damaged; 5) The buyer packs the artwork for transport prior to collection; 6) The courier picks-up the artwork from the buyer as agreed under (4); 7) Artifuse sends an email to both the buyer and seller notifying them that the artwork is in transit and providing a tracking number; 8) The artwork is delivered and signed for by Artifuse; 9) An email is sent to both the buyer and seller advising that the artwork has been delivered, and that the transaction is now complete; 10) The list price of the artwork is credited to the buyer's initial mode of payment; 11) The seller is paid the same sum that they would have received if the artwork had not been damaged in transit and not returned by the buyer. Any artwork for which a transport insurance claim is paid by Artifuse becomes the property of Artifuse following the claim.

What returns policy does Artifuse have, and how does it work?

Artifuse maintains a 14-day returns policy for all artwork sold through the site. A return through Artifuse is processed as follows: 1) The buyer sends an email to Artifuse within 14 days of receiving an artwork, stating that they would like to return it; 2) Artifuse sends an email to both the buyer and seller advising that the sale has been cancelled, and describing the remaining tasks required to process the return (as defined here); 3) Artifuse contacts our couriers to organise the return delivery to the seller; 4) The buyer organises a time and place for the couriers to pick-up the artwork via the respective order summary on our website – the pick-up time must be within 15 days of Artifuse's email acknowledging the buyer's statement that they would like to return it; 5) The buyer packs the artwork for transport prior to courier pick-up; 6) The courier picks-up the artwork from the buyer as agreed under (4); 7) Artifuse sends an email to both the buyer and seller notifying them that the artwork is in transit and providing a tracking number; 8) The artwork is delivered and signed for by the seller; 9) An email is sent to both the buyer and seller advising that the artwork has been delivered, and that the transaction is now complete; 10) The list price of the artwork is credited to the buyer's initial mode of payment. For further details, see our Returns Policy.

What if I do not meet the deadlines required by Artifuse's returns policy?

If you do not state that you would like to return a purchase within the 14-day returns period, or if you do not organise to have the artwork picked-up by a courier within 15 days of stating that you would like to return it, then we accept no obligation to cancel the sale.

What if a purchase that I return is found to be damaged?

In this case, there are two possibilities. If you use our courier services for both the out-bound and return deliveries of the artwork, then any damage to the artwork will be covered by our insurance, up until the transaction is complete. Otherwise, the buyer will be considered responsible for any damage to the artwork.

What happens if I choose not to use Artifuse's preferred couriers when returning an artwork?

If a customer makes their own delivery arrangements to return an artwork, then they accept full responsibility for all associated costs, including any losses due to damage of an artwork in transit. Return delivery costs and insurance are covered by Artifuse if organised through our website.

Where can I find Artifuse's Privacy Policy?

Our Privacy Policy is listed under our Terms and Conditions.

What information does Artifuse collect about me?

Artifuse is designed around the principle that we should store the minimum level of personal detail necessary to provide the services that you explicitly request from us. This reflects our view that you have a fundamental right to privacy. As such, we do not surreptitiously track your activity, and make no attempt to 'tailor your user experience'. Please refer to our Privacy Policy for full details concerning the use and storage of personal data on Artifuse.

Can I obtain a copy of the data that Artifuse has stored for me?

Yes – a button is provided at the bottom of your account Details page to submit your request. We will then gather your data in a file and send it to you by email.

What control do I have over my information?

Most of the information that we store about you can be accessed at any time via your account administration pages, and amended or deleted as desired. There are two exceptions: 1) favourites recorded under an account, which can be omitted on a case-by-case basis; and 2) transaction data associated with an account. Details of the transactions previously executed under an account cannot be amended, as this information is required for administration purposes. For further details, see our Data Retention Policy.

How secure are the details that Artifuse stores about me?

Our use of any information that you share with us and associated security measures are discussed in detail in our Terms and Conditions. The site is designed to store the minimum level of personal detail necessary to provide the services associated with an individual's account. This detail can be accessed at any time by an individual through their account administration pages, and amended or deleted as desired. Any information that you share with us is treated with the strictest confidence, and used only to provide services that you request from our site. We will never ask you to confirm your details by any medium whatsoever, and will not provide these details if requested. All information that we hold about you should be communicated via your account administration pages. All communication with the website is encrypted. Sensitive data that we store for you on our servers is also encrypted, and access limited to Artifuse employees on a need-to-know basis. Additionally, our systems are designed and updated to comply with prevailing best-practice security protocols for public facing websites.

How can I delete my account?

You can delete your Artifuse account at any time by via a button at the bottom of your account Details page. Please note that we cannot retrieve details for an account after it has been deleted.

What information does Artifuse retain after I delete my account?

When an account is deleted, we delete all information associated with it, retaining only information about purchases associated with the account. For further details, see our Data Retention Policy.