Apps For People Who Love Art

Image via Complex Original

Using a nifty virtual museum interface, Art Authority allows users to browse over 70,000 works of Western art that range from ancient to contemporary. Each work comes with a short description, just like in a real museum, and if you want even more detail, the app provides access to in-depth information to thousands of artists and periods.

If the idea of walking into a pretentious art gallery in Chelsea makes you uncomfortable, look no further. Finestra makes it easy to discover and support local artists from the comfort of your phone. The no-fuss app even lets you preview works of art on your own wall, all while listening to a short blurb of the artist speaking about the piece.

Looking for inspiration? Cool Hunting describes itself as being all over the news that stands at the “intersection of art, design, culture, and technology.” The app alerts users of the newest art installations, interior designs, fashion collections, and other cutting-edge updates in the creative world.

Described as having the “largest online database of contemporary art,” Artsy also lets users view and buy art from galleries around the world. Perhaps the app's greatest feature is that it allows you to save art for later reference, create sets, and collect your favorite works of art.

Instagram filters are so overused. Why not add some interest to your photos by corrupting them instead? Glitché lets you distort images using real computer errors and bugs. The results are often psychedelic and beautiful.

Graffiti enthusiasts, rejoice: All City Street Art and Graffiti allows users to track and share street art in their area. Users also have the option of rating art, marking their favorites, and uploading submissions themselves.

Give yourself something to look forward to everyday with DailyArt. Each day, the app publishes a work of fine art along with facts and interesting trivia about the work and the artist.

New Yorkers, don't let FOMO cramp your style. NY Art Beat updates you on all the art shows happening right now in the city, so you have no longer have an excuse for missing out on that awesome new Jeff Koons exhibit. The app makes it easy to bookmark upcoming events and filter your search by popularity, distance, and medium.

If you're an artist yourself, or simply want to try your hand at drawing, Tayasui Sketches provides all the tools you need. The ultra-clean interface reflects the brand's name (“tayasui” means “simple and easy” in Japanese) and also allows you to easily share your sketches.

Combine your love of art and music with Sleevenote. The app's huge database of authentic album art allows you to flip through sleeves just like you would a physical record collection. Simply double-tap the art to start playing the corresponding track.

Everyone's favorite modern art museum, now at the tips of your fingers. Get the most out of your next visit with the app's handy features like audio commentary, calendar of events, and guidebook of collections. You can even create sets of your favorite works of art.

What is art without a healthy dose of narcissism? With Sktchy, you can upload your selfies to inspire other artists to draw you (or if you're an artist yourself, search for muses to draw). Paint me like one of your French girls, Jack.

A puzzle/hidden object game with an artsy premise, Artistico is one of the more original apps we've seen. The app allows users to engage with art as they race against the clock to piece together famous works. As users advance to new levels, they also advance to different time periods in art history.

Artbook Archive is a collection of beautiful digital art books. It's like having a bunch of coffee table art books all compiled on your phone. Each work of art is displayed in HD retina format, allowing for maximum eye candy.

Legendary art educator Josef Albers' iconic book, Interaction of Color, is now available in app form. If you're at all interested in learning about color theory, start here. The app includes video commentary, over 100 color plates, and a bunch of interactive studies that are sure to open your eyes about color theory and optical effects.