A Lot Of Work To Do - Anonymous employee ArtLifting Employee Review

1.0
2 Jun 2022
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

-time off -WFH benefits -opportunity to learn new skills

Cons

Artlifting has a lot of flaws that can be understandable in a small, young company: product issues, constant process changes, lower pay, higher turnover, etc. However, what's not acceptable, even in a small company, is the pay inequity between colleagues, nor the very patronizing way artists are referred to and treated. Artlifting has a lot of work to do, but needs to start at the internal level- really evaluating the way it treats and compensates its employees and artists. Additionally, the benefits that are unrelated to vacation time (i.e. medical, dental), are sub-par at Artlifting. This company has potential to be great, but needs a serious ethical overhaul.

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ArtLifting Response
3y
Thank you for taking the time to share about your experience at ArtLifting. We agree that the opportunity to learn new skills is a pro of working here, in addition to a lot of flexibility with time off and working from home. We are committed to helping everyone develop and grow in their careers while at ArtLifting, and it’s important to us that employees define what career success means to them so we can support them as they move forward and toward their goals. Skill building is a critical component for everyone, and we love to hear employees' reflections on how they’ve grown at ArtLifting, whether that’s in individual development conversations, annual performance reviews, or even exit interviews. You mentioned a few cons about your experience here that we have worked to address and will continue to pay attention to and invest in as needed. We listen to our artists through both direct and anonymous feedback. All artists approve their bios before they are shared on the website and we use direct quotes from our artists to ensure their individual voices are heard. In our anonymous annual artist survey in 2021, 88% of artists said they feel that sharing their story and artwork helps reduce stigma about individuals impacted by housing insecurity and disabilities. And in 2022 we established an Artist Advisory Board to help inform us about the artist experience and what can be improved. Regarding compensation and pay differences between colleagues, we have conducted market benchmarking recently as well as made some pay adjustments. We are committed to looking at pay on an ongoing basis for our team members to ensure it’s competitive, rewarding, and equitable. With employee benefits, since the team is spread out across the U.S. we provide a Health Reimbursement Account (HRA) that gives employees the flexibility to choose a health plan that best suits their needs. This plan also allows us to reimburse employees for a wide range of medical expenses, not just their monthly premiums for their plan. We review the reimbursement amounts we provide during our annual plan renewal and have found our HRA is quite competitive. For example, coming into 2022 we learned we provide at least $1,000 more per year to our employees than other companies that use our HRA provider. We will continue to evaluate our offerings each year. If you have any additional feedback you’d like to share, I’m happy to connect. You can reach me at hr@artlifting.com.

Explore other reviews about ArtLifting

5.0
23 Jan 2023
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

100% remote 4-day workweek Supportive team Great mission Great benefits Amazing artists Kind and supportive leadership I love it here! I am relatively new to my position (1 year) and my experience has been great. The culture at ArtLifting is hands down amazing. The team is super collaborative and supportive, and management takes a person/ individual first approach- meaning they support work-life balance. So much so that when the Chief Growth Officer noticed I had not used any vacation time last year, she set up a meeting with me to encourage me to take time off, and made sure I felt supported enough to do so. I would say that this is the most supportive environment I have ever worked in. The work itself is also very rewarding. You can see the impact of your work and how it is helping people. We also have great benefits like: a 4-day workweek, matching 401k, employee stock options (we didn't have to buy in either), health reimbursements, monthly socials, professional development funds, and weekly chats with the amazing artists we represent.

Cons

No workplace is perfect. As a small organization, there are a few growing pains here and there. However, we have seen our leadership team listen to and act on employee feedback. Whatever issues have come up so far don't seem out of the ordinary for a company this size, and seem to be addressed quickly and with sincerity. I am very happy here and would recommend ArtLifting to anyone. You can tell they are deeply invested in the artists they represent and their employees.

7
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ArtLifting Response
3y
We’re glad you shared about your experience at ArtLifting - thank you for this review! Your comments really speak to two of our values: Act with Purpose and Learn Always. It’s important to leadership that not only is ArtLifting doing purposeful work as an organization but that it’s also a great place to work for the team. This means cultivating a highly supportive work culture through policies, practices and leading by example, and also continually improving, addressing growing pains, and listening to feedback. It’s encouraging to see you’ve experienced this at ArtLifting. If you have additional feedback please reach out to me (hr@artlifting.com) or your manager, or you can use our internal feedback form.
2.0
10 Aug 2025
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

One of the key advantages is the company’s 4-day workweek, combined with a competitive benefits package that includes up to 6% 401(k) matching. All employees share in the organization’s success through variable compensation linked to company performance, which helps foster a sense of shared purpose. The workplace culture features strong team camaraderie and cross-functional learning, with colleagues who are collaborative, supportive, and eager to share their expertise. Employees have the chance to develop a wide range of professional skills and receive an annual professional development stipend to support ongoing growth. The mission mainly attracts passionate individuals, adding a sense of meaning and energy to daily work. Additionally, the role provides valuable opportunities to build lasting relationships with represented artists, their supporters, and community organizations across the United States, making the work both personally and professionally fulfilling. This is a sales-driven organization, which can be seen as either a pro or a con depending on your priorities and interests.

Cons

I advise caution before seeking employment at ArtLifting if you live with a disability, particularly one that affects communication or productivity. In my experience, the company’s culture emphasizes perfectionism and efficiency to an extent that challenging even for neurotypical individuals, and it ultimately proved unsustainable for me as someone with a non-visible disability. ArtLifting could benefit from having an executive leader with lived disability experience, someone who can help guide the company in developing more inclusive practices, advocating for understanding, improving accommodations, and cultivating a culture grounded in empathy and transparency. The workplace culture tends to avoid confrontation, sometimes at the cost of clarity. While performance issues are sometimes addressed quickly, there are times when concerns are raised informally and not contextualized until an annual review. This delay in giving serious feedback, though perhaps well-meaning, can erode trust and leave employees feeling blindsided. It can create confusion about expectations and lead to misinterpretations of performance over time. In performance discussions, leadership often uses language that minimizes conflict but also discourages mutual engagement. While a calm tone can be helpful, relying only on it can make conversations feel one-sided and limit opportunities for open, honest dialogue and shared accountability. Concerns raised by employees, especially those involving management behaviors or broader cultural issues, were often met with deflection or silence in my experience. A reluctance to acknowledge mistakes or unintended consequences added to a dynamic that sometimes felt psychologically unsafe, particularly for those already experiencing marginalization. One of the most frustrating parts of my time at the company was seeing how swiftly executive leadership could address and resolve issues when they aligned with their strategic goals. This showed a high level of capability but also made it clearer when employee concerns were ignored — they simply weren’t prioritized. Expectations around “Living ArtLifting’s Values” are high and are taken seriously during performance reviews. However, the way those values are interpreted and applied seems to vary widely across teams. The inconsistency in enforcement, combined with the emphasis placed on these values in reviews, could create feelings of unfairness if clear examples and support are not provided. Earlier in the company's history, there were instances where executive management encouraged raising artwork prices based on a client’s disclosed budget. These decisions were justified with phrases like “the artwork is worth what someone will pay” or “think about the financial impact for the artist.” While I understand the intent, these practices raised ethical questions for me regarding transparency and professional integrity. I hope more consistent and values-based pricing standards are now in place. ArtLifting has a tech startup-like approach that values growth, revenue, and efficiency—qualities that may not always align well with the slower, more relational pace needed for creative development, disability inclusion, and long-term sustainability in mission-driven work. Professional advancement and significant salary increases were rare in my experience, which isn’t uncommon at small companies but is worth noting for those seeking long-term career growth.

3
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ArtLifting Response
10mo
Thank you for your many years of contributions to ArtLifting and for sharing your perspective. We truly value the voices of those who have been part of our journey. Our mission is rooted in inclusion and in creating opportunities for artists with disabilities, and we are equally committed to fostering a supportive environment for our employees. We are proud of benefits such as our 4-day workweek, professional development support, and equitable pay practices, while also recognizing there is always room to grow. Feedback like yours helps us continue strengthening our culture of transparency, inclusion, and professional growth.
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