Imperial graduate pioneers art as a vehicle for social change

1409, Seema Kohli (2017)

An Imperial alumnus has launched a platform which unites artists, collectors and non-profit organisations to drive social change.

Art of Kindness, founded by former full-time MBA student Devika Sarin, is a new marketplace for art where people can discover, exhibit, buy, and sell artworks while championing social causes around the world.

A portion of the sales proceeds from every artwork sold through the platform - which would traditionally be transaction fees in the art market - are directed to projects by partnering non-profit organisations.

Devika Sarin // Art of Kindness

Devika is currently developing technology to underpin the Art of Kindness platform so that it would be able to track the philanthropic legacy of artworks. In doing so, she aims to integrate social impact into the story of an art piece and revolutionise the art-ownership experience.

Devika said: “Every piece of art has a story behind it – who painted it, where it’s been hanging, its journey. We want to make social impact - and the involvement of the buyer - a part of that narrative too, so that when you look at a painting hanging on the wall you know it has made a difference to the world.This will be a lasting legacy, which will endure even if the artwork is sold on.”

"Genius idea"

Art of Kindness is currently working with five social impact partners, including Acumen, who work to alleviate poverty by boosting entrepreneurship, charity: water, who provide access to clean drinking water in developing countries, and Project Pressure, who work to document the world’s vanishing glaciers and boost public awareness about the impact of climate change.

Art of Kindness launched with an interactive exhibition in November

Ruth Powys, CEO of charity Elephant Family, said: “Art of Kindness is simply a genius idea that I feel should have been nailed a long time ago.”

Devika, who is originally from Boston, is the recipient of a Graduate Entrepreneur Visa, sponsored by Imperial. The visa allows non-European recent graduates, who have been identified by their institution as having a business idea that is genuine, credible and demonstrates entrepreneurial skills, to extend their stay in the UK after graduation to establish their business.

Devika added: “Art of Kindness began life because of a family love for art and evolved through a project for my MBA thesis. It is fantastic to have the opportunity to turn that into a venture that combines my passion for the arts, social impact, finance, and technology.”

“London is one of the world’s greatest cultural hubs. This city has a rich art scene, as well as access to fintech, business networks and philanthropy. As a social entrepreneur, having a foothold in London is such an important opportunity.”

• Anyone interested collaborating with Art of Kindess can contact Devika through the Art of Kindess website.