Here are the best places to buy incredible art for less
Making a house a home is a skill in itself. You lay down a cosy rug, add an indoor plant here and there and throw a knitted blanket across every possible piece of furniture. But somehow, something is still missing. Art. From sculpture, to photography, to oil paintings, art is one of the best ways to warm up a house or flat, as well as expressing your own unique tastes and passions.
The problem is, the art world has traditionally been, well, a bit snobby. Auction houses and stuffy critics meant that the whole idea of choosing art was all too daunting, and fear of reproach stopped many in their tracks. What if you choose something deemed ‘tacky’, or you save up to buy a piece you love, only to be scoffed at by a self-proclaimed art aficionado. Luckily, this is changing, and judgement is slowly being removed from the art world in favour of inclusivity, tolerance of other people’s taste and a collective celebration of every artist’s work.
But there’s one even bigger obstacle when it comes to buying art. It is seriously expensive, right? Well, not if you know where to look. From degree art shows, to online collectives that champion up-and-coming talent, to undiscovered masterpieces on Etsy, we’ve rounded up the very best places to find affordable art that you’ll cherish forever.
Many have works available for under £250 and offer a wide variety of mediums including sculpture, tapestries, oil on canvas as well as framed prints of original pieces, which are available for a lot less. The most important thing to think about is whether you like the art, and whether it fits in the space you have available, so make sure to check the dimensions.
As for whether it will be an investment - the short answer is who knows. Any art connoisseur will tell you should never buy art to try and make money from it - the future success of an artist is almost entirely unknowable and depends on way too many subjective elements. Plus, you have to look at the art for as long as you own it, so the most important thing is to choose something that you don’t mind hanging on your wall.
With that in mind, here are our favourite sources for affordable art…
Etsy
Brown Abstract Painting by Baronvisi, £280, Etsy
Etsy is known for giving a platform to creatives and small businesses, and the same goes for artists too. They have a huge range of artists, who can be filtered by their medium (including sculpture, painting, glass art and more) and their location so you can find exactly what you're looking for.
Partnership Editions
"Preto E Branco" by Mafalda Vasconcelos, £750, Partnership Editions
Founded with the aim to make remarkable art accessible to all, Partnership Editions is a great platform to discover a curated collection of incredible artists, with works for sale from just £50. Perhaps what Partnership Editions are particularly known for is discovering exceptional talent, including Mafalda Vasconcelos, who takes inspiration from the symbolism and spiritualism of her Mozambican culture.
College Art Exhibitions
Unknown by Crystal Matarira, Goldsmiths BA Fine Art 2019
If you're looking for budding new artists, a great place to start is university or college art exhibitions, where students showcase their year's work. There's a huge amount of versatility in the type of work, including installations, video, sketches, modern sculpture and paintings, so it's a great place to start if you're not sure what you like best. This painting was displayed at Goldsmith's 2019 Fine Art Exhibition and is by Goldsmith's graduate, artist and stylsit Crystal C Matarira.
Partnership Editions
"Captured Print" by Lisa Hardy, £200, Partnership Editions
Another great way of getting into art is to buy limited edition prints of original works. Each print is numbered, signed by the artist, and comes with a certificate of authenticity, so it's still considered incredibly unique and valuable, whilst being a fraction of the price of the original. This minimal yet joyous print of an original watercolour is one of 50 in the world, and comes already framed.
Partnership Editions
"Moon Dance" Print by Jessica Yolanda Kaye, £220, Partnership Editions
Fine line drawings are incredibly coveted right now, and these limited edition prints by Jessica Yolanda Kaye explore the complexity of human movement in an incredibly elegant way.
Affordable Air Fair
"The Sound" by Jon Rowland, £800, Affordable Art Fair
If abstract art is more your vibe, you'll find plenty to your liking on Affordable Art Fair. One of their artists is Jon Rowland, who explores concepts like space and colour through expressionist landscapes and collages.
Affordable Art Fair
"Great Tew, Summer" by Rupert Aker, £400, Affordable Art Fair
The Affordable Art Fair is not only an annual event (during the pandemic, all events have been virtual), but it's also a vast resource of up and coming talent across every medium. Take Rupert Aker, a self-taught Cotswold-based painter who takes his inspiration from the natural beauty of his surroundings, playing with light to bring his landscapes to life.
AucArt
"Blue Lake, 2020" by Ye Zhaofeng, £500, AucArt
Sourcing talent from across the world, AucArt is known for discovering rising international talent, as well as working with more established artists. Ye Zhaofeng is just one of their artists, who explores the pace of life and society from his hometown of Hangzhou, China.
