Murus Art, a self-proclaimed “disruptive online art retailer”, has launched an augmented reality (AR) experience to enable customers to try out and buy art from their home.
Working with AR and 3D creative platform Poplar Studio, Murus Art says that the AR technology will allow customers to ‘try before you buy’, creating a unique way of buying art and connecting customers and their homes with contemporary affordable art.
The adoption of AR experiences into its catalogue is done through a tool created by Poplar Studio to take all the images of paintings and convert them to 3D models. As the demand for these experiences increases, so does the creation of time and cost-effective solutions.
The collaboration will see digital-only art retailer Murus Art’s website bring to life the retailer’s collection of 800 paintings allowing visitors to the website to be able to visualise the art on their own wall by going to the painting page and clicking on the “View on your wall” option.
In September, the art retailer will be hosting a pop-up event in London, with scannable QR codes available to visualise paintings within the house, combining the digital and physical experience through AR.
The pandemic has caused a shift in buying patterns, forcing customers online across all sectors. For online-only businesses such as Murus Art, having the competitive advantage of a user-friendly experience online has driven demand since the pandemic.
Throughout the pandemic, art businesses have been looking at how to replicate the in-person experience of viewing and buying art pieces. Many have been turning to AR technology to adapt to an online or hybrid form of retail, engaging with customers in new ways through campaigns, though Murus Art are the first to have this level of tech innovation for their whole collection.
Rose O’Shea, co-founder Murus Art, explains: “Our mission has always been to make buying art online easier and more accessible. We knew from speaking to our customers one of the biggest pain points in buying art online was the inability to visualise what a piece of art would look like in their home. The solution developed through our partnership with Poplar Studio solves this problem and gives our customers an unprecedented service, offering the full augmented reality experience across our entire catalogue of affordable original art.”
David Ripert, CEO and co-founder of Poplar Studio, adds: “The pandemic has forced many brands online, increasing competition as they all vied for customers’ attention. With online-only businesses such as Murus Art already leading the way in customer engagement and experiences online, it’s only natural that they’re one of the first within the art world to utilise AR technology to enhance the customer experience shopping from home. We’re thrilled to add Murus Art to our growing clients within the art world as we move to a new way of viewing and purchasing art through technology.”
