10 Top Tips For Buying Art

Thinking of investing in art? Here’s expert advice from gallery owner Graham Britz of Graham’s Fine Art Gallery in Joburg. 10 top tips for buying art.

1. Buy with your heart.

2. Never buy based on price, rather on quality.

3. If you can afford to, choose established blue-chip artists like Preller, Sekoto, Stern, Pinker, etc.

4. Buy works from artists who have represented their country internationally.

5. Artworks illustrated in any publications further highlights significance and value.

6. Always consider the following: Subject matter, Composition, Line, Support, Medium and Pigment.

7. Other factors to consider: Period, Condition and Provenance.

8. Do not buy reproduced, decorative, commercial art. Go for the sophisticated aesthetic of contemporary artists who are known and respected.

9. Always buy the best of the artist’s work. The rule of thumb is: if you cannot acquire it because it has been sold or you cannot afford it, buy the second best, if not, then the third. Art is priced on quality. Art is not priced on price.

10. Remember you are buying a visual art form and aesthetics are the dominant factor in acquiring any work.

Visit grahamsgallery.co.za to view their extensive collection.