The short story of how we got here — and why we keep going.
Modern Artifax grew out of a frustration. Gallery culture can feel intimidating: white walls, hushed voices, price tags available "on request." We thought there had to be a better way to connect people with art they'd actually want to live with.
We opened our first space in 2018 as a combined showroom and online gallery. The idea was simple: present original work with clear pricing, honest descriptions, and none of the gatekeeping that keeps first-time buyers away.
When we evaluate a piece, we ask three questions. Does the craftsmanship hold up under close inspection? Does it sustain interest over time — not just in the first five seconds, but after living with it for months? And does the artist have a genuine point of view, or are they chasing whatever sold well last season?
Those filters keep our inventory small. We'd rather carry twenty remarkable pieces than two hundred forgettable ones.
We represent a rotating roster of roughly fifteen artists. Relationships tend to be long-term: we want to grow alongside the people whose work we show, not treat them as interchangeable content for a feed.
Artists receive a fair commission split and retain full creative independence. We handle sales, shipping, documentation, and client communication so they can focus on the work.
Our showroom is open by appointment in Portland, Oregon. Most clients browse and purchase through the website, but there's no substitute for seeing a piece in person. If you're in the area, we'd love to show you what's on the walls.