I had joined Artsy with high hopes and aspirations, eager to contribute to the art world and grow in my career. Unfortunately, my experience was far from positive, especially as a non-white individual.
Artsy claimed to value diversity, but in reality, leadership seemed to use these values to maintain a predominantly white male hierarchy. Despite the emphasis on diversity, there were very few women and people of color in influential positions. Those who were in leadership roles often found themselves marginalized, serving more as figureheads than actual contributors to the business.
Microaggressions and concerns about workplace behavior were consistently ignored by the people team, creating an environment where bullying and micromanagement were tolerated. Complaints about my manager as a bully micromanager were brushed aside, and retaliation was a daily occurrence. The double standard in measuring managers against different values only exacerbated the toxic culture.
The business model was questionable, with outdated backend technology. Artsy's disregard for its partners and employees was evident, and the gap between the company's onboarding promises, especially in sales, and the reality was striking. If you were seeking a supportive environment to grow your career and make a positive impact on the art world, Artsy might not have been the right choice.
Working there left me disillusioned about the tech and art world. The lack of support from management and the prevalence of gaslighting and dishonesty took a toll on my professional well-being. My advice to prospective employees would be to consider other opportunities unless you're comfortable learning the art of professional deception. It was disheartening that a company with the potential to contribute positively to the industry fell so short of its promises.
