5 ways to buy art for homes and commercial spaces
By Diana Mosher
At Greystar’s District Living apartment tower in Austria (above), murals reinforce the urban lifestyle concept throughout the property.
There are many opinions about what is art, where and how you should procure it and how much you should pay. Whether it’s for the home or a commercial space, art is in the eye of the beholder. Sometimes it’s a no brainer to spend thousands for a must-have piece; but, art does not have to cost a lot to be of value. Here are five ways to buy art for home, office and beyond.
1 Frame Some Memories. Two of my own most treasured pieces of art are simple childhood drawings done by my sons. Compatible in color and subject matter, Eric’s “Alien” and Glen’s “Monster” are displayed as a pair. I invested in crisp white gallery mats and modern black frames—both purchased at an art supply store. Is there a wall in your home or office or apartment property where this DIY approach would work? Mats and frames are available in a large range of standard sizes (including poster size) to display just one work or a grouping.
2 Work with an Art Consultant. At the other end of the spectrum are professional art consultants that help clients source artwork. My friend and ASID NY Metro member Arlene Angard is a gallery owner and art curator with a particular passion for emerging artists. Brower, Miller + Cole Art Consulting founded by Judy Brower Fancher works on a range of projects from commercial real estate assets to luxury residential. Elizabeth Sadoff Art Advisory (read my Q&A with Elizabeth Sadoff) also helps clients source artwork with the understanding that making relevant decisions regarding art acquisition is highly personal and the process can be intimidating to the unseasoned collector.
3 Trust Your Instincts. Another way to build a collection is jump right in and purchase what you like at digital and brick and mortar galleries and art fairs. Check out SaatchiArt.com. And, if you missed the Affordable Art Fair NYC last month, save the date for September 2024. This event will be back at the Metropolitan Pavilion with a diverse selection of artworks ranging between $100 and $12,000. Affordable Art Fair nows holds events in 10 cities around the world including London, New York, Hong Kong, Hamburg, Amsterdam, Brussels, Singapore Stockholm, Melbourne and Sydney, with two new fairs soon to open in Shanghai and Berlin. Another resource, Art | Basel Miami on December 8-10, brings together leading galleries from five continents to show works by masters of Modern and contemporary art as well as the new generation of emerging stars.
4 Shop Second-Hand Sources. Sometimes you can pick up amazing finds in the least expected places. Don’t forget to check in with antique shops, consignment shops, thrift shops and estate sales.
5 Commission Art Directly from the Source. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, consider commissioning original art from a painter, photographer or sculptor. You might already have talented artists in your friends and family or professional network. Joanne Thorne Arnold, my friend since college, has an amazing range and she’s open to commissions. So is my cousin Lisa Rybak, principal designer at Complete Wonder Home Design in San Francisco. Lisa was formally trained as a decorative artist and she creates bespoke paintings for her clients as well as custom murals.
If you’re looking to start a collection or get a second opinion on where to display what you already own, let’s schedule a 30-minute consultation. Whether you’re going for a maximalist interior or love as much negative space as possible, art choices are an important part of the interior design process!
PS: This post is from my October newsletter. Click here to subscribe to the real thing, which includes additional content like what’s inspiring me this month and new product introductions.