The Back Room

The Back Room is an online secondary fine art marketplace connecting collectors directly to browse, list, and acquire artworks like paintings, prints, and drawings. It operates on a commission basis ranging from 4% to 12%, charged only upon completed transactions, and positions itself as neither an auction house nor a gallery. The platform allows users to catalogue their collections and offers browseable listings of available works, including pieces by listed artists with prices shown in Australian dollars.

The platform features curated collections associated with individual collectors based in cities such as Sydney, allowing users to catalogue their collections under a name of their choosing. Users can arrange works on their own virtual wall by dragging, resizing, and hanging them exactly as they would in a real room. This feature enables collectors to mark works they are ready to move, set their price, and add condition notes without owing anything until a sale completes.

Commission scales down as value scales up, starting at 12% for works under A$2,000 and dropping to 4% for major works over A$100,000. There is no listing fee, and nothing is owed until a sale completes, with the commission calculated on the final agreed sale price rather than the original asking price. Seller pays the commission, which is deducted automatically from the settlement via Stripe Connect once a transaction finishes.

The Back Room uses Stripe Connect to handle settlement, holding buyer payments until handoff is confirmed before splitting funds automatically. Funds typically settle to the seller's account within 2–3 business days of confirmation, and Stripe's standard processing fees are absorbed by the platform rather than added on top of the seller's commission. This routing ensures both parties have a transaction record and buyer protection while still settling quickly.

To start selling, users must connect a Stripe account through a one-time setup that takes about five minutes, including a standard KYC check and adding bank details. Once set up, collectors can list works for sale immediately with no waiting period, and the platform handles tax info confirmation for compliance. This streamlined process allows immediate listing without additional delays.

The platform offers premium services including valuations through independent accredited valuers and Back Room Certified listings. For certification, a representative sights the work in person or via verified video call and reviews original purchase documentation to confirm the work exists and the provenance story holds. This certification is not a forgery check but confirms the work's existence and logged provenance, costing from A$95 with additional works at A$10 each.

All communication between buyers and sellers goes through The Back Room to keep identities protected until both parties are ready to transact. The platform ensures that nothing is owed until the work sells, and the tiered commission structure applies only upon completion of a sale. This secure messaging system facilitates direct collector-to-collector interaction while maintaining privacy.

The Back Room is located in Sydney, Australia, as indicated by its focus on Sydney-based collectors and its use of Australian dollars for all pricing. The platform serves the fine art retail and internet industries, connecting collectors in this specific geographic region. Its operations are centered around facilitating direct transactions within this local market.

Some reviewers on Reddit mention the concept of a 'back room' in unrelated contexts, but the platform's name directly references this idea of a private exchange. The business describes itself as a private exchange for collectors where they can browse and acquire directly from other collectors. This aligns with the theme of finding hidden or exclusive opportunities in the art market.

The platform features a tiered commission structure that rewards higher-value sales with lower fees, ranging from 12% for smaller works down to 4% for major works over A$100,000. This structure is designed to encourage the sale of valuable pieces while keeping costs reasonable for smaller transactions. The commission is only charged once a transaction completes, ensuring no upfront costs for sellers.

The platform integrates with Stripe Connect to handle secure payments and automatic fund splitting, ensuring a smooth transaction process. It also offers a virtual wall feature for cataloguing collections and a certification service for verifying provenance. These tools collectively support a seamless experience for both buyers and sellers.

The platform is designed for collectors who want a private exchange to browse and acquire artworks directly from other collectors. It suits those who prefer a commission-based model with no upfront listing fees and a focus on direct communication. The platform is ideal for users who value a curated, small-community approach to art trading.

The official website of The Back Room is backroom.art.

On Trustburn, The Back Room has a rating of 4.4 out of 5 based on 5 reviews.