Five Steps to Collecting Art on a Shoestring

Collecting art is a passion that takes time and money. That being said, artworks come in all sizes, forms and… prices. You don’t need to be rich to collect art, even great art, you just need to know where to look and what to consider. Herbert Vogel (August 16, 1922 – July 22, 2012) and Dorothy Vogel (born 1935), worked as civil servants in New York City for more than a half-century while amassing what has been called one of the most important post-1960s art collections in the United States, mostly of minimalist and conceptual art. Their collection eventually came to include work from artists such as Pablo Picasso, pop artist Roy Lichtenstein, photographers Cindy Sherman and Lorna Simpson, minimalist Robert Mangold and post-minimalist Richard Tuttle.

Less will do. On a tight budget? Art collector Jo Morten Weider gives five advices you might find useful, if you are collecting art on a tight budget.

1. Look for emerging artists

Most art is more expensive than you think, but sometimes it is actually cheaper. You just need to look for artists that are not yet fully established. Check out art academy students on the brink of graduation, do research on Instagram, and simply let your curiosity lead you towards the many talented emerging artists out there.

2. Buy editions

Editions are usually a lot cheaper than unique works, but not necessarily less beautiful or strong.

3. Prioritize

Tight budgets require hard decisions. Maybe you can skip the big city vacation to Barcelona (you have probably been there a bunch of times before after all), and spend the money on art instead?

4. Buy small

Small works are usually cheaper than big ones. Buy small pieces of art. A wise collector once said: It´s better to have big art in small formats than the other way around.

5. Don’t be afraid

It is better to buy than not to buy. We all need to start somewhere. Buy something you like and take it from there.

Photos: Courtesy of Jo Morten Weider and Silje Engja Sigurdsen