with the Whitney Biennial and the Armory Show in full swing, we've got art on the brain this week. And it's not hard to see why—it's easy to fall in love with the stuff.
"My father had a room at one of the first Gramercy Park Hotel art fairs in the '90s, an event that later became the mega Armory Show," recalls Casey Fremont of the Art Production Fund. "He was showing small bronze sculptures that were meant to be held. As a young girl, I was so thrilled to encounter art that you could actually touch!" Speaking of, where should you shop for art? And what should you know about visiting a gallery?
It all starts with a little bit of learning. "The new resources that collectors have are online retailers that also produce educational content—sort of like an Art 101," explains Maria Baibakova, the founder of Baibakov Art Projects. "There's information about abstraction and photography, as well as rudimentary vocabulary." This can all help facilitate a better understanding of what you're looking to invest in. "Once you find an aesthetic that you can relate to, go beyond the visual to the conceptual," suggests Adam Fields of Artspace. "There's much more to art than just a pretty picture, and I guarantee learning more will not only make you appreciate an artist or piece, you'll also want to discuss it with friends and family."
Even with plenty of digital resources, some art-heads prefer to do things the old-fashioned way. "I'm more likely to buy work that I'm able to see in person, so If I'm buying something online, I tend to look for obscure artists in unexpected places like eBay," says New York-based gallery owner James Fuentes. "Sophisticated art-focused websites offer things sold at galleries, which is where I'd rather buy them." He has a point—but because plenty of people don't live in cities with a robust gallery scene, these new sites are democratizing the availability of art.
But if you are able to shop in a gallery, there are a few things to keep in mind. "The staff is there to provide information," says gallery owner Lisa Cooley. "Many first-time visitors feel alienated, but this is usually a feeling they project onto an unfamiliar situation. Galleries are generally interested in cultivating new clients, and they will frequently, although not always, let you work out a payment plan. Many famous collectors began on budgets as small as $25 a week."
One thing everyone can agree on? Art's importance. "It's an investment in your future," Baibakova says. "Great art usually appreciates in value, so it's not like getting a handbag, or even a piece of jewelry, for graduation. It's something really special because you can keep it in your family for generations." Economics aside, how you feel about the work is all that really matters. Says Fuentes: "Even if something's not worth anything in any market, if you genuinely love it, it's worth something to you."
Ready to dive in and start your own collection? Click through to see our favorite art sites.
