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How to Collect Emerging Art

While million-dollar masterpieces may dominate the headlines, these art sales represent just a fraction of the increasingly accessible and exciting art market. Thanks to the internet, it’s easier than ever to discover artists worth investing in via auction house heavyweights like Warhol, Koons or Basquiat go out. Such artists are referred to as blue-chip or blue-chip artists established artistsThis means that their artworks are regularly sold at high prices on the secondary market and are kept in the collections of established institutions. Beyond the blue chip is the limit of aspiring artistsor younger and not yet recognized artists in the early to middle phase of their career. While these artists may not yet be named, they are the emerging avant-garde of contemporary art, and their work is available to collectors of all stripes.

Why Collect Emerging Art?

Today’s emerging artists are tomorrow’s established artists, and buying a work of art early in its career gives you the best chance of seeing it appreciate in value over time. But when you buy emerging art, you’re not just making a potential financial investment — you’re supporting an artist’s career. You can make that investment worthwhile by supporting artists in your local community or by buying art about ideas you care about. Or maybe you just fall in love with an artist’s work, which is ultimately the most important factor.

how to start

Question why: Are you mainly looking for art to decorate your home? Are you betting on a possible return on investment? Or are you buying out of appreciation for the art itself? There is a market for each of these priorities, but your goals as a collector will determine your approach.

Dive in: Visit local galleries, art school graduation shows, and similar fairs The other art fair to get a feel for the evolution of contemporary art trends and find out what you like. Check out online galleries like Saatchi Art to discover emerging art outside of your area. Saatchi Art’s one to watch series and yearly Rising Stars The report highlights promising artists from around the world. You can also explore what other collectors buyand read through Curators’ tips.

Set a budget: Emerging art is available at different prices depending on the artist’s size, medium, and career stage. If you’re working on a tight budget, start by looking at the fine print and photos. If you are working on a bigger budget, you can take the opportunity to invest in one Rising Star before they make it big.

Do your homework: If you’re interested in buying from an aspiring artist, look at the artist’s resume. For example, many of Saatchi Art’s top-grossing artists exhibit regularly, participate in artist residencies, are featured in art publications, and their artwork is in the collections of small museums and even well-known private collectors.

Buy what you love: While an artist’s career can be important to hopeful investors, a short resume shouldn’t negate your love of art itself. There are no guarantees when it comes to investing, and at the end of the day, Saatchi Art always advises buying what you love and want to live with for a long time.

Popular media and styles

With the breadth of emerging art, there are more opportunities to discover original art that suits you and your unique interests. As a collector, you might even be able to build a niche collection, focusing on a specific style, medium, or region, for example landscapes, Summariesor nudes. Emerging artists are also the ones shaping the future of art, for example by exploring new media digital artand reinvent traditions, like portrait painting.

Start building your collection today

In summary, there are as many ways to collect emerging art as there are notable works of art. If you find the possibilities overwhelming, Saatchi Art can help you narrow your scope. Contact a curator today for a personal interview Art Advice to discover contemporary art that suits your goals, tastes and budget as a collector.

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