5 Ways to Begin Collecting Art

Jul 07, 2023

So you want to start collecting art and aren’t sure what to do first? Here are 5 ways you can get started! If your home, office, studio, or even bathroom is covered with that boring paint color and the same plant picture from five years ago, I’ve got what you need to make your space timeless and truly YOU. But where do you begin? Here’s your easy guide for starting your very own art collection:  

  1. Get connected Many artists are actively showing and promoting their work on social media. You can look for tags like #artistsoninstagram or #collage or #oilpainting to start finding some styles you like. When you find an artist whose work you like, make sure to follow them, or better yet, join their email list if they have one, so you can see new work they post. Many artists sell prints of their work if you feel like their original works are out of your current price range.

  2. Go to group show art openings This is an easy way to see many artists’ work in one place. There are many places these days that hold art openings that aren’t galleries, like shops and restaurants, so if you haven’t attended an art opening before and are nervous or intimidated by art galleries, these are a good place to start. And if you are still hesitant, here's some helpful info on what to do at an opening.

  3. Attend art fairs and markets Like group shows, these are a great way to see several artists’ work, with the added benefit of seeing a range of pieces, and not just one or two. If you are particularly drawn to a body of works, ask the artist questions about it like “What medium do you use?” or “how would you describe your work?” or “what inspires you?” Not only will you learn about the art in front of you, but you can start to distinguish what styles you are drawn to and begin learning some reasons artists create the work they do. 

  4. Start Small You might not be able to or feel comfortable buying a large, high-dollar work just yet, but many artists offer a range of sizes and price points, so you can start by purchasing smaller works and even display them together on your wall as a mini gallery. 

  5. Commission an artwork Sometimes artists will charge a little less for commissions than they might for self-directed work they will show at galleries because its a guaranteed sale that is done directly. If you like someone’s style and have a subject matter that’s related to what they do, contact them to see if they do commissions and what their price range is. Learn more about commissioning art here.