How It Works
A fine art marketplace connecting collectors with independent contemporary artists.
Buy Now Process
Direct purchase flow for listed artworks
Browse & Purchase
Find an artwork you love and complete checkout securely via Stripe.
Payment Confirmed
You'll receive a confirmation once payment is processed.
Coordinate Delivery
Use platform messaging to share your shipping details with the seller.
Artwork Delivered
The seller ships your artwork directly to you.
Paying by Bank Transfer?
For acquisitions of €2,500 or more, you may choose bank transfer at checkout. You'll be redirected to a secure Stripe checkout page showing a unique virtual bank account for your transfer. Once you send the funds from your own bank, Stripe confirms the transfer automatically when it clears - typically within 1–3 business days. No receipt upload or seller approval is needed.
Unlike a card payment, a bank transfer carries no chargeback or dispute process outside the United States. Once your funds clear, the transfer cannot be reversed or recalled by Visionary Studios or Stripe — a refund is only possible if the consignor agrees to issue one. Please verify the account details shown on Stripe's page carefully before sending, and be satisfied with your acquisition before transferring.
Paying from More Than One Account?
For a single-item purchase, "Split Payment" at checkout lets you pay part by card now and the rest by bank transfer — useful when the two amounts come from different accounts, such as a company account for the bulk of it and a personal card for the rest. You choose the exact card amount; both it and the remainder must be at least €100.
You'll confirm whose name the bank transfer will arrive under — your own, or one other named person for a company or family purchase — which simply helps us match the transfer to your order. See our FAQ for the full details.
Seeking to Acquire a Piece Above €2,500?
Collectors acquiring works valued at €2,500 or above are asked to complete a one-time identity check with Stripe Identity. It takes around two minutes, is authenticated entirely by Stripe, and no documentation is retained by Visionary Studios. You can complete it at checkout when you secure your piece — or save time by verifying your identity now in Settings.
Refunds & Returns Process
What happens if something isn't right with your order
Open a Refund Request
From your Orders page, select a reason — not as described, never received, damaged, changed your mind, or other — and describe the issue.
Seller Has 72 Hours
The seller is notified immediately and must approve or decline within 72 hours.
Approved, or Platform Steps In
If approved, your refund is issued right away. If the seller doesn't respond in time, the platform may process it on your behalf under platform policy.
Return the Artwork
Unless the issue was non-receipt, you'll return the piece at your own cost. Your Orders page shows a return-by date and reminders — the seller confirms once it's back.
Three Different Options — Which One Applies?
| Refund Request | 14-Day Withdrawal | Stripe Chargeback | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who can use it | Any buyer, any seller type | Only against a business seller (Artist/Gallery), not auctions or bespoke works | Any cardholder, via their bank |
| Reason required | Yes — not as described, damaged, never received, changed mind, other | No reason needed | Set by your card network's rules |
| Who decides | Seller (72 hrs), then the platform if they miss it | It's your statutory right — the seller must comply | Your bank and Stripe, independently |
| Typical speed | Fastest — days, not weeks | Up to 14 days to withdraw, then 14 days for the seller to refund | Slowest — weeks, decided by your bank |
These three options are independent — opening a Refund Request never uses up or affects your statutory withdrawal right or your ability to raise a chargeback. For full detail, see our Buyer Terms (Sections 6 and 7a) and FAQ.
Seller Onboarding & Listing Process
Steps to become a seller and list artwork
Apply to Sell
Submit your application via Consign With Us — no account needed to apply.
Platform Review
Our team reviews every application individually, usually within 24–48 hours. You'll hear back by email either way.
Create Your Account
If approved, accept your invitation and set up your Visionary Studios account.
Stripe Connect Verification
Complete Stripe Connect Express onboarding, including identity and payout details. Required before listing or selling.
List Artwork
Submit artwork details, images, pricing, and any supporting documentation.
Listing Review
Each listing is reviewed for completeness and platform standards before going live.
Go Live
Approved listings become visible to buyers. Transactions occur through Stripe-processed payments.
The Platform Commission
The platform retains a 15% commission on completed sales, with the remaining 85% released to you after delivery is confirmed. New sellers may list up to €3,000, with the ceiling lifting as you graduate tier. Buyers acquiring works at or above €2,500 complete a one-time Stripe identity check at checkout. Listings at or above €10,000 require full identity and right-to-sell verification under EU anti-money-laundering rules.
Want extra visibility instead of a flat fee? The free Performance Placement track promotes your work with no upfront cost — if it sells while featured, a 20–25% commission applies to that sale instead of the standard 15%. See the Placements tab in your Seller Dashboard, or our FAQ for all three placement options.
Auction Process
Competitive bidding for listed artworks
Place a Bid
Bids are final once placed. A valid payment method is required to participate.
Auction Closes
The highest bidder wins. On most lots, payment then begins right away. On "premium lots," bidding requires pre-approval, and the winner's payment is a two-step process (see the note below).
Payment
Pay the full amount by card via Stripe, or by bank transfer for acquisitions of €2,500+.
Coordinate Delivery
Use platform messaging to share shipping details with the seller.
Artwork Delivered
The seller ships your artwork directly to you.
Bidding on a Premium Lot
Some higher-value lots are marked "premium" and require approval before you can bid. As part of approval, the seller or admin may ask you to arrange a deposit — a card authorization hold, not a charge, typically valid for up to 7 days (you'll be asked to reauthorize if the auction runs longer).
If you win, that hold is captured and applied directly toward your purchase, and you only pay or wire the remaining balance. If you don't win, the hold is simply released — you're never charged. See our FAQ for the full policy, including what happens if a premium-lot sale doesn't complete.
Acquisitions of €10,000 and Above
What collectors should complete before bidding
Collector Identity Verification (€10,000 and above)
Under the EU Fifth Anti-Money Laundering Directive, art market participants must complete Customer Due Diligence before concluding any transaction of €10,000 or more. This applies to both direct acquisitions and winning auction bids, and to new and existing collectors alike.
- • Individuals: full name, date of birth, nationality and permanent address, with a valid government-issued photo ID and proof of address.
- • Companies, charities or trusts: evidence of incorporation, directors, and all ultimate beneficial owners.
- • Source of funds: a short declaration of how the funds were acquired, with supporting evidence where relevant.
Submissions are reviewed within 24-48 hours. Bidding and acquisitions at or above the threshold may continue once verification is approved, so we recommend completing it in advance of any auction you intend to enter. Your documents are held securely and processed in accordance with GDPR and our Privacy Policy.
Complete the CDD form →VAT & Customs
How VAT is handled across borders
VAT treatment at checkout is determined automatically by EU law, based on where the seller is established and where the artwork is physically located at the point of sale.
- ✦ EU seller → EU buyer: the seller charges VAT. Visionary Studios is not involved.
- ✦ Non-EU seller, artwork in the EU → EU buyer: VAT at your country's rate is added at checkout and remitted by Visionary Studios via the EU One Stop Shop.
- ✦ Non-EU seller, artwork outside the EU → EU buyer: import VAT and customs duty are collected by the carrier on delivery, not at checkout.
- ✦ B2B buyers: enter your VAT number at checkout for reverse-charge treatment on qualifying intra-EU transactions.
Full details in our Terms of Service (Section 11a) and the VAT & Customs FAQ.
What We Provide
Platform Services
- ✦ Fine art discovery & marketplace infrastructure
- ✦ Live auctions & buy-now listings
- ✦ Secure buyer–seller messaging
- ✦ Listing standards & submission guidelines
- ✦ Payments processed via Stripe
- ✦ Independent appraiser marketplace
- ✦ Live provenance register — a permanent public record of every transaction
Buyer & Seller Responsibilities
- → Shipping & delivery arrangements
- → Artwork condition & authenticity
- → Every shipment of €2,000 or more is required to carry tracking and transit insurance before the seller can mark it shipped
- → Independent insurance for lower-value shipments if required
- → Payment disputes handled by Stripe and the buyer's issuing bank
Clarification of Platform Role
Visionary Studios provides the platform and tools that enable transactions between buyers and sellers.
We do not act as an intermediary, broker, or agent in transactions, and we do not participate in the handling or resolution of disputes.
Buyers and sellers communicate and complete transactions directly. Payment processing and any disputes are handled independently by Stripe and the buyer's payment provider.
Nothing in this section alters or overrides the Terms of Service or Seller Terms.