why is Bork? 

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In the early days of 2025, founders Ian & Shay (or Shay & Ian—who’s really counting?) were done with the same old song and dance. Fed up. Frustrated. In Feb 2025, Ian dropped off 17 paintings for a show. In March, they took home 14 and a much smaller commission than they had hoped. The show wasn’t well marketed, and the pieces were big and priced accordingly.

Ideas were tossed around in a half-joking manner. How to market work to make a reasonable income? How to compete with mass-marketed & produced "hand-crafted" items, while avoiding the predatory corporate platforms? Quickly, it was realized that these daunting questions are not uncommon, and that together, we could market as a stronger whole, with more, we'd be unstoppable. And so, Bork was born.

With our backgrounds in marketing, outreach, and non-profit wizardry, plus a treasure trove of institutional wisdom and solid connections, we’re on a mission to unite artists and arm them with the tools, knowledge, and platform to showcase and sell their creative masterpieces. We’re keeping it cozy and starting small! You can catch us at local markets and festivals, or follow us for the latest scoop and exciting updates.