Searching for artwork that’s NSFW? You’re not alone.
According to research done by UGallery, a leading online gallery site, nude artwork is the most sought-after. Last year, it made up 10 percent of all searches.
New Yorkers eyed “au naturel” subjects the most. Residents of Los Angeles and San Francisco weren’t far behind in their curiosity. Searches with this descriptor will return styles ranging from abstract to realistic.
That said, collectors are mostly purchasing landscape and abstract art — not the next Rubens.
Stephen Tanenbaum, president and co-founder of UGallery, said the site regularly keeps track of search terms and trends, but this is the first time they’ve revealed this particular art content to be so popular.
New York ranks No. 1 in terms of pieces sold.
The most expensive piece of artwork UGallery sold last year was to someone in the city for $6,000, but the average order value is $520.
UGallery.com launched back in 2006 and partnered with Amazon Art Marketplace this summer.
The site hosts the work of 500 emerging and midlevel artists, presenting up to 6,000 pieces of original artwork to connect directly with collectors.
According to a report by Hiscox insurers, online art sales are projected to reach $2.1 billion by 2017, and 71 percent of collectors have bought art online without having seen it prior.