Washboat

Washboat is a place for artists to organise and present their practice—and for collectors to discover the people, work, and stories behind contemporary art.

Artists can upload their work, build a timeline of their practice, and discover relevant exhibition venues, grants, residencies, and open calls.

Collectors can explore curated artists and artworks, read the Daily Edition, save artists they want to follow, and request a thoughtful introduction when a work sparks their interest.

The name comes from Le Bateau-Lavoir—French for “the Washboat”—a ramshackle building in Montmartre, Paris, where artists including Picasso, Braque, and Modigliani worked in the early 1900s. It was cold, cramped, and unglamorous. But it was a place to make work, be around others, and figure things out—before anyone knew their names.

FOR ARTISTS

Your timeline is a private archive of your practice.

Add artworks, exhibitions, residencies, research notes, studio moments, sketches, or half-formed ideas. Over time, your timeline becomes a living chronological record of your work, written in your own voice.

You control what stays private and what appears on your public profile. Some entries are milestones. Others are simply things worth keeping.

A visible timeline helps collectors and curators understand more than a finished artwork. It shows how your ideas, materials, and voice have developed over time—and gives curators better context when considering or writing about your work.

Washboat uses the artworks and profile information you choose to provide—including your disciplines, location, career stage, and artist statement—to compare your practice with a curated database of galleries, residencies, grants, and open calls.

Matches are ranked by their relevance to your practice. Each match can include a tailored outreach email, written to reflect your work and ready for you to review and send.

For artists, free profiles include a sample of matching results. Washboat Pro unlocks unlimited refreshes, more opportunities, and full outreach drafts.

FOR COLLECTORS

Discover contemporary artists through an art-led, editorial experience designed for looking closely rather than endlessly scrolling.

Explore public artist profiles, artworks, projects, and timelines. Read the Daily Edition for a deeper introduction to selected artists and their practices. Save artists you want to return to and build a personal collection of discoveries over time.

When an artist or artwork resonates with you, you can send a short appreciation. Eligible U.S. users age 18+ may optionally include $5, $10, or $25 through Stripe. Monetary appreciation never purchases artwork, digital content, access, promotion, or a reply. You can also ask about an artwork or discuss a commission, and continue conversations in Activity. Artists control which requests they receive and can choose whether to reply.

If you are both an artist and a collector, you can create both profile types and switch between the complete Artist and Collector experiences without signing out.