A beginner’s guide to buying art
You don’t need millions to start your own art collection. Read on for curator Kate Bryan’s top tips on where to look – and what to buy
1. MEET THE ARTISTS
The best thing about the art world is artists. It’s an incredibly brave and beautiful thing to sit alone in a studio each day and conjure new work. Events like The Other Art Fair allow you to have a chat with the artist on their stand while you check out their work. There’s no such thing as a stupid question and it’s a great opportunity to personalise that piece you’re investing in.
2. USE INSTAGRAM AS A TOOL
A lot of smaller galleries that show emerging art are sadly closing because rents are too high. This means that artists – a large percentage of whom are female – are now showcasing their work on Instagram. Find someone in the art world with similar taste to you and follow their artist network. If your feed is brimming with art it’s going to be easier to identify what you love.
3. CHALLENGE YOURSELF
Weird is good. Humour is good. Masculine sat next to feminine works is good. Try different mediums – embroidery, ceramics and collage are all as important as paintings and photography and will add different dimensions to your collection.
4. TRY A SALON HANG
I acquire all the art globally for Soho House, and key to the look of many collections is the salon hang – lots of small works installed in one space. The idea is to make it feel like they were lovingly assembled bit-by-bit over many years. It always looks so striking and allows you to place quite different work together without being jarring.
5. MAKE FRIENDS WITH A FRAMER
Framing is a vital component of acquiring and installing most art. Shop around for someone who knows their stuff and has a good selection of framing options. Take your time, and maybe try some coloured or gilded frames every now and again to break up your salon-hang pattern.
6. GET POLITICAL
Text-based art continues to be a vital and interesting part of the contemporary art market. It’s frequently employed by artists like Sarah Maple to make a social or political point alongside imagery. It has good wall power and allows you to align your beliefs with an artist.
7. FINALLY… DON’T TRY TO MAKE A MILLION
You’ve heard some artists sky-rocket in value overnight, but it’s extremely rare. For many artists, this kind of hype can be a poisoned chalice. Do your homework by asking for biographies and CVS to see how respected and established the artist is, as this will dictate price. But, ultimately, buy what you can afford – and buy what you love.