Often times the art world appears snobby, discriminative, and exclusive to only a small fraction of society, namely the wealthy and non-BIPOC investors and patrons. Due to this “‘mindset,” most are turned off from patronizing museums, viewing gallery exhibitions, and especially acquiring art.
Art collecting can seem like an intimidating process but it doesn’t have to be. Collecting paintings, sculptures, ceramics, photography from emerging to established artists can easily turn into a hobby or for some, a future investment.
Here we lay out 5 tips to help beginners or seasoned art collectors build their art collection.
Research
Visit museums and galleries first to see what you like! Don’t be so quick to make an impulse buy you may regret later. Most cities have a vibrant art scene and you should tap into this. Make more than one trip and visit as many as you can. By visiting, you can determine what your taste is - do you like hyper realistic paintings or abstract sculptures, for example? If you come across an artist who resonates with you, do your research! Find out their background, check out their website & social media, and see if they are represented by a gallery.
Community
Your local art scene is a hidden gem in your own backyard. Visit your local galleries to check out exhibitions by local artists. There are also resources like local art collecting groups to join where you can meet fellow art collectors and artists. Investing in local artists is a great way to introduce yourself to the art world and open the door for more exposure to artists. Also, think of it as growing your community. Oftentimes we overlook the importance of our local art scene because we maybe focused on a bigger, more impressive “big time” artists when we have local talent all around.
Proper etiquette
There’s an art to buying art. Think of it like purchasing a home or a car for the first time (or frequently if that’s in your wheelhouse). If an artist is represented by a gallery, contact that gallery! The gallery (or galleries if they are represented by more than one) handles the negotiating, acquisition process, and shipping/delivery arrangements on behalf of the artist. Also by doing this, you are building a good rapport with the gallery who can give you access to the artists’ new work, help build your collection over time, or refer you to sources such as auction houses or art advisors.
*Now if you are interested in an artist who is self-represented, the same rules where you want to build a good rapport with the artist this time. If you are local or in their town for a trip, see if you can schedule an studio visit if they are available. Ask the artist questions and get to know their practice more.
Art advisors
Art advisors offer services to clients whether you are one time or a repeat client to individuals looking to grow or start their collection. They charge for their services however, they have built in relationships with galleries to offer their clients a range of artists they otherwise would not be exposed to.
Negotiate
When you are ready to purchase an artwork from a gallery, do not be afraid to inquire about a discount. Even if it’s as small as 5%, it can’t hurt to ask. No more than 10% is standard and if the gallery agrees, that’s great. Galleries want to establish good relationships with their clients and are more than willing to do so because they are in the business of art. Also, if you are not able to fully pay for the artwork upfront, ask if you can go on a payment plan. If agreeable, you and the gallery can set up a timetable for when payments are due (i.e. monthly, quarterly).
Remember to take your time and enjoy the art collecting process! Exploring and having fun is the key to making it into an experience you will look forward to.