Collecting Art - How to start and where to go  

It won’t have escaped you that this last year many people spent a considerable amount of time in home stores, DIY and gardening centres. Spending ‘forced’ time at home has led to many of us reviewing our life and lifestyles but also to making our home environment more comfortable.    

I reckon hygge, home baking, nice candles and fresh flowers have all been high on the priority list but considering what to put on our walls and the idea of collecting art has also been the topic of many a conversation.   

What to collect, where to buy and which artist to look out for are all daunting questions if you are looking to buy your first work of art or planning to build a collection. Buying art is very different from simply buying decoration for your walls. You can easily and quickly fill your home with any type of wall art, in specified sizes and colours from many home stores or online shops but building an art collection takes time.   

Of course, there is always the option of commissioning an artist to make something site-specific but those who do go down this route, have usually been collecting art for a while and this is normally not the first step new art buyers make. So where to start?  

There are many avenues to buying art but the most obvious places that will spring to mind are galleries, auction houses and art fairs. All are wonderful places to learn about artists, their background, and in the case of contemporary artists new works they may be working on. These are also great places to learn about various price levels. As is the case with say furniture buying, there are different levels of pricing in art, depending on the artist, medium, size and age. I need to point out that bigger isn’t always better or more expensive, quite the opposite sometimes, and art also doesn’t necessarily get better with age. Wine buyers will understand this point very well.    

As we are unable to attend any physical art space, for the time being, the best place to start with looking at art is at home. Whilst we are still in lockdown, take the opportunity to look at gallery websites, follow artists on Instagram, read art magazines and explore different mediums and centuries. Maybe you are more inclined to look at photographs, perhaps mid-20th Century fashion shots, or perhaps you have an interest in works by underrepresented artists. You may feel more connected with works on paper, whether that is prints, drawings or watercolours, or perhaps you feel colourful abstract paintings are more for you.   

Subscribing to many gallery and museum newsletters will help with your knowledge of art and inform your decision. And of course, talk to other collectors or art advisors. You could join a museum circle, it’s a good way to connect with art enthusiasts who are more than happy to tell you their experience. You may not share the same interests as those you speak with, but it may give you a different perspective and food for thought. Collectors often have a focus on a specific movement in art, a period or medium and you’ll find that many art buyers are focusing on a theme. Perhaps they collect works made by women or focus on underrepresented communities or the environment for example.   

Naturally, there are always factors such as budget and size to consider when buying art but aside from that, working out where your interest lies is a very good start. And truly there are many works on offer for different budgets.   

I often get asked about the cost of buying art and of course I understand the anxiety people may feel around collecting. It is usually record prices by world-famous artists sold at auction that make the news and naturally this gives an air of exclusivity, but there are so many artworks on the market at a much lower and affordable level.   

Since lockdown started In March 2020, the artist Matthew Burrows set up #artistssupportpledge, a movement that supports artists through selling works online and via social media, for up to a maximum of £200. This has not only given many artists a lifeline but also provided opportunities for collectors to explore new and established talent. Another good place to find fresh and exciting works is at student degree shows, where you may find art for less than the cost of a canvas print as one collector pointed out the other day.  Given the choice would you rather have a mass-produced multiple from a home furnishing shop or a unique work by a young or emerging artist? Or even Old Master drawings? The latter have fallen out of fashion in recent years and it is incredible how many wonderful, centuries-old drawings can be picked up at auction.   

On that note, auction houses are incredible institutions to learn about art. Particularly in the London auction houses such as Christie’s and Sotheby’s, there is usually a lot on offer with different art sales taking place on a near-weekly basis. Auction catalogues are easy to view online or via an app and whilst there are no fixed prices for the art on offer, the estimate range is a good indicator of what the work will get at auction. Quite a few auctions are currently being conducted online, and they provide an educational but also entertaining insight into how collectors acquire art this way.   

Art fairs are often seen as a less daunting experience than going into a gallery or an auction house. One of the benefits is many others walking around, and in an open space it is easy to explore the different mediums and movements in art. During this time of lockdown leading art fairs are offering online viewing spaces with talks by curators and gallery owners, and whilst it isn’t the same as exploring a fair in real life, it is a good opportunity to inform yourself of what is on offer if you are new to collecting.  

Although sometimes seen as the most daunting place to see art, galleries are worth exploring, and most have regularly changing exhibitions. Subscribe to their mailing lists and once the restrictions are lifted, go see as much as you can. I appreciate that some of the very high-end galleries may not feel welcoming at first, but I urge you to get past the sheer arrogance of some of the receptionists. They often have one role only and are trying to make themselves frightfully important doing so. A show of power (or fright?) which is entirely misplaced and unnecessary and will certainly put off some but if you are interested in learning more about a work or an artist on show, I would advise to ask for the gallery manager or owner.   

When looking around art fairs or galleries you’ll notice that prices aren’t usually displayed but simply ask how much a gallery is asking for a work. Whether you are interested in buying it or not, it is a good way to learn.  Besides a real interest in an artist will result in being taken more seriously. Don’t be afraid to ask whether an artist has been in a one-man show, a joint exhibition or a group show and who has collected their work. Whilst you won’t hear a name dropped, you may get an indication of the appeal of the artist. An exhibition list to take home will help you consider some of the works that you have seen and note, always ask for one with the prices on!  

Depending on the work you consider buying there may be several other factors to consider such as conservation, transport or perhaps insurance but this shouldn’t put you off exploring and these additional costs are often only applicable for the higher value, larger or fragile works of art.   

It may feel daunting as there are many ways and levels of acquiring art but if you are seriously thinking about buying your first work, talk to an art advisor for independent advice.   

Stay tuned for more art collecting tips next month.

Follow The Art PA on Instagram @the_art_pa for insights from other art professionals and collectors.

This article by Petra van den Houten was first published on www.salutions.co.uk on 12 February 2021