Buying Original Art 101
You’re ready. You’ve moved into a bigger space. You bought the rug, and that big blank space over your couch is begging for an upgrade from the Ikea poster you’ve had since your first apartment. It’s time to buy a piece of original art.
In this post, I’ll share the four basic things to do before you buy art and my recommendation on where to start.
- Make sure you love it. Art should make you feel something. Original artwork isn’t usually a return type of purchase, so be sure you want it.
- Set a realistic budget. You can read more about pricing in my post on understanding the price of original art (coming soon!), but for now, know that the size, material, and artist’s career history will all affect the cost of your artwork.
- Get to know the artist or gallery where you’re looking to buy. Follow them on social media, go to their openings, start a conversation. Artists and galleries desire to sell work so they will be receptive to your attempts to reach out.
- Try to see the work in person. If you live in the same city, consider making an appointment for a studio/gallery visit and indicate you are interested in investing.
Buying art will look different depending on the situation. You could buy directly from an artist, from a website (whether an artist-hosted personal shop or an online gallery), from a gallery, from an auction, or through an art consultant.
Where should you start?
If you want to build your collection on your own over time, I recommend keeping an eye out for artwork that moves you and inquiring when that artwork presents itself. Your first purchase is most likely going to come directly from an artist that you’ve spotted online or when you’re strolling through a maker market. Both of the sellers in these environments will be receptive to your questions and will make you feel great about your new piece of art.
If you want to fill your entire house with artwork at once, then it makes sense to visit a gallery or contact an art consultant. They will have access to a roster of artists and can help you fill your home with multiple art pieces in your price range. Similarly, if you want to start big with an established artist or a multi-thousand dollar investment, there is a lot of piece-of-mind that comes from working with a gallerist or consultant. Galleries can provide services such as white glove install, shipping insurance, and a history of working with artists that go on to have successful careers, which means your piece is more likely to retain its value.
Yes, there are lots of things to think about when it comes to purchasing art, but it doesn’t have to be intimidating. Start with something small, like an email to inquire, and see where the conversation goes from there. If you’ve got a commission on your mind, read my post on how to commission artwork from an artist.
Have fun shopping for your art and be in touch if you have a question. You can leave a comment here or send me an email/DM.
