Follow a detail.
Search for an artist, a subject, or the words that describe what you remember. Explore the collection and let one artwork lead you to another.
Meet the artistsAbout ArtifactArchive
A closer look.
A story worth keeping.
ArtifactArchive brings together artworks, the people who made them, and the stories behind their details. Start with something you remember and see where it takes you.
Explore the archiveWhy the archive exists
Curiosity is a good
place to start.
You do not always remember an artwork's name. Sometimes it is a face, a colour, a gesture, or a certain kind of light that stays with you.
The archive gives those details somewhere to lead. Find the image, spend time with it, and discover the people and history behind what you see. You can arrive with a question or simply browse until something catches your eye.
Look. Read. Keep.
Make your own way in.
Read the story.
Look closely at the image, then explore its context. Artwork records include source links so you can follow the research and keep asking questions.
Find an artworkKeep something you love.
When an artwork stays with you, explore its available prints and products. You can also create a design of your own in the archive shop.
Visit the shopThe image and its evidence
There is always
more to discover.
A visible detail, a documented event, and an interpretation each tell us something different. The archive's research notes and sources help you explore those distinctions, including where an account is uncertain or disputed.
Artist credits, collection records, and image sources belong with the work. Follow the links in each record to learn more about the original artwork and the collection that holds it.
Behind the archive
Built by Sam Potts.
ArtifactArchive is an evolving project, developed by Sam Potts. Each increment is a chance to make discovering art a little more rewarding.
Visit Sam's website