We were incredibly flattered to see this article in Rebellious Magazine about Redefining What It Means to Be an Art Collector by Erinn M. Cox. A huge thank you for the kind words!
Re-define What it Means to be An Art Collector
By Erinn M. Cox
In the winter of 2010, I stumbled upon a website for a gallery in London and discovered the work of an artist named Jennie Gunhammar . Her work is breathtaking, I mean literally breathtaking, and although I desperately and suddenly wanted to own one of her pieces – I couldn’t get myself to even ask the price. Her images stuck with me, and when I still couldn’t get them out of my head some 14 months later, I emailed the gallery to inquire about pricing, availability, etc. A simple email was all it took to get the ball rolling toward my first, real, live, art purchase. The high of the purchase was only exceeded when the work actually arrived, and it was more gorgeous in person than I ever imagined it would be. At 35, I was finally a bonafide art collector.
Sound familiar? Absolutely – even for those of us who are more seasoned in the fine arts, at least in appreciation and knowledge, if not the wallet. Working in the art fair business, I can recall a visual of what a major, fine art collector looks like – and it certainly didn’t look like anyone in my circle, myself included. I have denied myself the joy of purchasing art, supporting artists, filling my home with beautiful pieces – mostly because I was convinced I couldn’t afford the “real” work. And for that, I was a fool.
In the last few years, the characterization of an art collector is changing – not only in the minds of the collectors but the galleries as well. The picture of a wealthy, seasoned patron is blurred with the up-and-coming buyer with both a little and a lot to spend. Whether you are looking for something (or someone) specific, or wide open to what’s out there – there are virtual galleries that are redefining what it means to purchase and collect art and support artists.
These carefully curated websites offer dynamic works at exceptionally reasonable prices selected for both the veteran collector and the daring novice with an astounding variety of conceptual thoughts. The best part? They’re open 24 hours a day and provide tons of information, categories for sorting, and assistance if you’re just not sure where to start. The art buying process should always be about finding work you just have to have and with art this accessible; you should be filling your walls from ceiling to floor.
ArtStar | www.artstar.com
Good for Artists, Good for You | Build Your Collection | Be An Expert
Believing that people who enjoy contemporary art should be able to own it, ArtStar is all about exposure – for the artist (emerging and established) as well as the buyer (novice or seasoned). Founder and director, Chrissy Crawford explains why: "ArtStar is an online platform for discovering and collecting contemporary art at affordable prices. The recession spurred a tremendous amount of innovation in the art world. Artists and galleries became open to new ways to reach collectors and realized that the survival of the art world means accessing not only young collectors, but collectors with limited budgets and without access to galleries. ArtStar uses the Internet as an online platform to give artists exposure to collectors around the world. We also help artist access younger collectors often priced out of the market for their original work but who have what they want to collect. Collectors might purchase a print from ArtStar for $50 today, but they are actively invested in the artist's career and might by an original down the line."
As you begin collecting work, the biggest question sometimes is which work to buy. By taking the guesswork out of collecting with a wealth of resources for learning about art, ArtStar has the answer here, too – including a blog with video interviews their featured artists and curators and savvy collecting advice, as well as virtual exhibitions to see how tastemakers assemble collections. Knowing that you’ll receive numbered, authenticated, limited-edition, museum-quality prints makes your only decisions which one and which size - in a run of 450, between three sizes are divided as follows: 11"x14" editon of 250 | 20"x24" editon of 150 | 30"x40" editon of 50, all starting at just $25.
I find the work on ArtStar to be some of the most interesting, cutting-edge and conceptually diverse work I’ve seen – often challenging my notions of art in significant ways. It's no surprise, with an all-star team of curators and art experts scouring the globe for significant and special work; all becoming must-haves in any collection. In my own, my first purchase here was Langdon Graves’ Cycle for a mere $50. Her drawings are beyond my means at the moment, but this print is one of my favorites, and I feel privileged to own one of her works. On my list to grab before they’re gone are Noel Kerns’ Prada Marfa, Dolly Faibyshev’s Pink Pants Poodle, and Kim Høltermand’s Deserted City Bridge. All three present contexts that seem familiar but often are beyond what I’ve experienced in a reality. I think I’ve been here, been there, and experienced that place, but then maybe it's all imaginary. These juxtopositions of the surreal with the familiar, the luxury with the stark, the partial with the complete are what make art so seductive and ArtStar is teeming with this kind of work.
Beginning an art collection (or jump-starting a burgeoning one) isn’t the challenge it used to be. The caliber of work on offer online today is unparalleled – the opportunity to own works from some of the world’s finest artists is staggering, and won’t cost you a year’s salary to do it. Finding work I love and bringing it into my home is a joy unmatched by almost any other purchase I make, and both of these sites have ensured my happiness for some time to come.
Images: from top, Pink Pants Poodle, Deserted City: Bridge, and Cycle.
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