The global arts market is expected to be worth an eye-watering $552.57 billion in 2025, highlighting the huge demand in this burgeoning sector. If you enjoy art, you may already be thinking of starting your own collection.
But what are the common artwork shopping errors that you should avoid? After all, when you’re looking for gorgeous art to buy, the last thing you want is to make a mistake that could leave you with overpriced artwork that you don’t really like. The good news is you can follow some simple tips to help you sidestep 7 typical art-buying errors.
Keep reading to learn more.
1. Not Researching an Art Dealer
Whether you choose to buy artwork from a dealer in a physical store, or from an online seller, it’s important to ensure you are buying from a trustworthy source. If this is not the case, you could end up buying a piece of art that is of poor quality, fake, or not as valuable as the dealer told you it was at the time of sale.
To help you find a reputable art dealer, you can spend time reading online reviews. If a seller has received one or two negative comments, this may be nothing to worry about if they also have hundreds of positive recommendations from happy customers. You can also ask an art dealer how long they have been in business, and inquire if they keep a list of verified client testimonials that you can view before making a purchase.
2. Failing to Set a Budget
Beautiful artwork can make you emotional, and you may be tempted to spend more than you can afford on a piece that captures your heart. But, you could come to regret this purchase if it is too expensive, and setting a budget can help you stay within your financial limits.
Another potential way to budget wisely is to invest in fractionalized art. By using this approach, you could own a share in many works of art, giving you a diverse portfolio that could give you a handsome return on your investment.
3. Not Considering the Artwork Size
Before you begin shopping for artwork, consider where you intend to display your new piece. If you were to buy artwork that is too big or small, you may have to return it to the seller. Measure the space you have available, and only look for art that will fit into this size of area.
If you are buying a painting, you may also want to check if adding a frame will mean the artwork is too large for your available display space.
4. Misunderstanding How Art Is Valued
You may think that the older artwork is, or the more famous the artist that created it, the more valuable the piece will become over time. But, this is not necessarily the best way to calculate how much your collection will be worth. Trends in art can change quickly, and your artwork can go up or down in value accordingly.
When comparing artwork prices, look at which styles have tended to perform well over the long term, and which types of artwork seem to be enjoying a rapid increase in value right now. This could help you decide whether you want to make an investment for the future or attempt to make a quick profit.
5. Not Being Open-Minded
You may already have a favorite type of art, but by looking at other options, you might find there are alternative pieces that you would like to add to your collection. For example, you may currently enjoy collecting sculptures, but if you were to take some time to learn about paintings, you might think this type of artwork would be a great investment.
Spending some time browsing various types of art from different eras could help you decide to expand your collection beyond your current niche.
6. Rushing Into a Decision
When you see a stunning piece of art, you may want to buy it immediately. However, this might not be a good idea if you haven’t yet carried out your research on both the seller and the artwork. This could lead to you purchasing counterfeit art at a high price even though it holds no value.
While you won’t want to miss out on a terrific piece of art, resist the urge to make an impulse buy that you might later regret.
7. Not Researching How to Look After Artwork
Depending on the type of artwork you buy, you might need to look after it in a specific way. This could include keeping a painting in a temperature-controlled environment, or only using particular kinds of cleaning materials on certain types of artwork surfaces. Before you buy artwork, check what maintenance practices are required, and decide if you are willing and able to carry out these tasks.
If not, you may prefer to buy art that requires less care and attention to keep it in the best possible condition.
Avoid Making These Common Artwork Shopping Mistakes
When you know how to avoid making some common artwork shopping errors, you can have more confidence when buying art from others in the market. It’s vital to only purchase artwork from reputable sellers, and to take your time when making a decision. Having an open mind can help you find art you might not otherwise have noticed, while it can also be a good idea to understand how to look after a piece of artwork before you invest your money.
You could soon be buying beautiful artwork that you can enjoy looking at for many years to come!
If you’ve found this artwork article helpful, be sure to check out more of our great blog posts before you go.