By artists, for artists. The social platform for real art.
Varbe will be the first Art Discovery Platform that truly unites Social Media and Marketplace. While Instagram suffocates artists with algorithms, DeviantArt gets flooded with AI garbage, and Etsy takes 35-40% fees, we're building something different: A platform where you can swipe through artworks like on TikTok, discover local artists near you, and buy directly from the artist. Completely AI-free, fair with only 10% fees, and without algorithm manipulation.
We're currently in Early Access. This means the big launch with Discovery Feed, Marketplace, and all features is coming in the next months. But you can already be part of it, connect with other artists and art lovers in our chat areas, and actively shape the platform. As a founding member, you're in from the start and get special benefits like a "Founding Member" badge and reduced fees when the Marketplace goes live.
Making art discoverable. Making artists visible.
We founded Varbe in 2024 in Bremen because we were simply frustrated as artists and art lovers. As artists, we see only 5% of our followers reached on Instagram. Our posts disappear in the algorithm while AI-generated "art" goes viral. We post something that took us weeks of work and get three likes. Meanwhile, Etsy takes 35-40% fees and DeviantArt gets flooded with AI spam.
As buyers, it's become impossible to find real originals. You scroll through hundreds of AI-generated images before you see a real artwork. And when you find one, you either pay horrendous gallery markups or don't know if the seller is legitimate.
We believe art discovery should be an experience, not a fight against algorithms. That's why we're building Varbe – a platform that combines the best of social media (Discovery, Community, Stories) with the best of marketplaces (direct sales, fair prices, buyer protection). And most importantly: We work for artists, not against them.
Imagine scrolling through Instagram or TikTok – but instead of Reels, you see stunning artworks in full screen. That's exactly how our Discovery Feed will work. Swipe up for the next piece, double-tap to like, and get inspired by real art instead of being manipulated by algorithms.
The feed will be personalized, but without the games Instagram plays. When you follow an artist, you actually see their posts. No shadow bans, no artificial reach throttling, no "post daily or die" culture. Your Following feed is chronological, honest, and transparent. You can work at your own pace and don't have to worry about your reach dropping if you take a week off.
An artwork is more than just a pretty picture. Behind every piece is a process, an inspiration, a story. That's why artists on Varbe can record voice notes for each work – 30 seconds where they share how the piece was created, what it means, or which technique they used.
You'll be able to see behind-the-scenes process videos showing how a blank canvas became a finished artwork. Or read short text stories about the inspiration behind the piece. Art transforms from product to experience. You're not just buying an image, but a story, a connection to the artist, a piece of creative energy.
Art doesn't just exist on screens. In your city, there are probably dozens of talented artists you've never discovered. Our Local Art Radar will show you on an interactive map where art is being created near you. You'll get notifications like "New art posted 500m away" and can discover local studios, Open Studio Events, and exhibitions.
Maybe you live just two streets from a painter whose style you love. Maybe there's a ceramics studio in your neighborhood you've never noticed. The Local Art Radar brings the online and offline art world together. Because ultimately, it's not just about buying, but about getting to know the real people behind the art.
Yes, there will be followers on Varbe – you can follow artists and they can follow you. But we don't believe success should be measured by follower counts. Instead, we're building features that create real connections instead of superficial engagement.
Artist Circles will be small private groups of up to ten artists who support each other, give constructive feedback, and grow together. No public comments, no likes, just honest critique among like-minded people. This is where real friendships and accountability partnerships form.
Our Weekly Art Challenges will bring the community together: A prompt is published, everyone has 48 hours to create something, and the community votes for their favorites. Winners get featured in the Main Feed and earn badges. It's not about posting daily or feeding the algorithm – it's about quality over quantity.
We have zero tolerance for AI-generated art. Every artist is manually verified. We use AI detection on every upload. All real artists get a "Verified Human Artist" badge. If AI is suspected, there's immediate suspension and permanent ban. We protect our community uncompromisingly. Your art won't be mixed with AI garbage and won't disappear among thousands of AI-generated images.
When our Marketplace goes live, we only take 10% fee per sale – maximum €10. No monthly fees, no listing fees, no hidden costs. In comparison: Etsy takes 35-40%, galleries often take 50%. With us, 90% of the money goes directly to you. Payout is automatic via Stripe Connect. Transparent, fair, honest.
But most importantly: You don't have to sell anything to be part of the community. Varbe is first and foremost a Discovery Platform. The Marketplace is optional. You can use Varbe to show your art, build a community, connect with other artists – completely without sales pressure.
Once the Marketplace launches, there's a 14-day money-back guarantee. Secure payment via Stripe. Tracking with every shipment. If there are problems: full purchase price back. You buy directly from the artist, not through intermediaries, but with the security you know from major platforms.
Your art, your control. The chronological feed for your followers shows everything you post. Featured Artists are curated, not "promoted". No shadow bans, no artificial reach throttling, no black-box algorithms. Transparent visibility. If you make good art and build a community, you'll be seen – regardless of how often you post or whether you spend money on ads.
Varbe was founded in 2024 in Bremen by a team made up of artists and art lovers. We've experienced the frustration ourselves. We spent weeks on an artwork, posted it on Instagram, and got three likes while an AI-generated image went viral. We sold on Etsy and paid 40% fees. We tried to find real art on DeviantArt and had to scroll through hundreds of AI spam images.
At the same time, we've seen how platforms like TikTok and Instagram find new ways to discover content. How local communities on Meetup and Discord create real connections. How Patreon and Gumroad enable artists to live directly from their community.
We thought: Why isn't there a platform that combines all of this? A platform that makes art discovery as easy as TikTok but is as fair as Patreon. That connects local communities like Meetup but scales globally like Instagram. That consistently excludes AI and truly puts artists at the center.
So we built Varbe. Or rather: We're building it right now. Because we don't want to do this alone. We want to build Varbe together with the community – with artists who understand what's missing, and with art lovers who appreciate real art.
We're in Early Access. This means many features are still coming in the next months.
The Discovery Feed is in development. The Marketplace is coming later. The Local Art Radar is being rolled out. But you can already be part of it.
Currently you can create a profile, register and get verified as an artist, follow updates in our blog, and connect with other founding members in the chat areas. You're in from the start. You can give feedback that flows directly into development. You get a "Founding Member" badge. And when the Marketplace goes live, you'll benefit from reduced fees in the first months. We could develop for two more years and then do a "perfect" launch. But we believe in Community-First. We want to build Varbe together with the people we're building it for. That's why we're opening the doors now, even if not everything is finished yet.
The vertical full-screen feed will have four modes: "For You" shows personalized art based on your likes. "Following" shows everything chronologically from artists you follow. "Local" shows art from your city or region. "Explore" shows curated highlights from the community. You can switch between modes and get exactly the type of content you want to see.
Your profile will show a timeline view of your artistic development. You can create portfolio collections for curated series. A "Work in Progress" section shows what you're currently working on. Your Artist DNA Profile visualizes your style through tags, techniques, and influences. Other artists can visit your profile, follow you, nominate you for Circles, or challenge you to Challenges.
Comments will be substantial – no "cool" or "nice" one-worders. Minimum 15 characters so real conversations can happen. Artist Circles for private critique and support. Weekly Challenges for community engagement. A badge system that's not based on follower counts but on real participation. And Direct Messages once the chat system is rolled out.
When the Marketplace goes live, you can list artworks with just a few clicks. Set a price, specify shipping options, done. When sold, everything runs automatically: Payment via Stripe, notification to you, shipping with tracking, money release after buyer protection period, automatic payout on the 15th of the month. You don't have to worry about anything – except packing and shipping your artwork.
Create your profile for free now. Get verified and become part of the founding community. Connect with other artists in the chat areas. Give feedback on platform development. And be ready when the Discovery Feed and Marketplace go live – then you can hit the ground running.
As an Early Access member, you get the "Founding Member" badge, get featured preferentially, and receive reduced fees in the first months. You're not just a user, you're a co-creator.
Even if the Discovery Feed isn't live yet – you can already become part of the community. Get to know the first artists. Follow the blog for updates. Join discussions in the chat areas. And be ready when Varbe fully launches – then a world full of real, handmade art awaits you.
In the coming weeks and months, we'll be rolling out step by step: Discovery Feed Beta for first users. Artist Circles and Challenge system. Local Art Radar with interactive map. Marketplace for sales with buyer protection. Mobile app for iOS and Android. And much more, based on your feedback.
We'll keep you updated via the blog and email. Every new feature will be announced and beta testers from the Early Access community get first access.
Questions? Feedback? Ideas?
Write us: info@varbe.org
Discover art. Support artists. No AI bullshit.