Buyers Guide to Contemporary Art

Want To Buy Contemporary Art, But Don’t Know Where To Start? Check Out the ValueMyStuff Buyer’s Guide.

Contemporary Art

Originality

Some contemporary artists tend to explore new territories of expression and often challenge the concept itself of art. Art today is not only painting and sculpture like in modern art, but also performances, videos and sounds.  The originality of a piece of art can overcome the immateriality of any object: art can even be transient, like in performances, or completely digital.

2 - Shock
Contemporary artists sometimes try to shock and and provoke their viewers and/or the visitors of their exhibitions. In some cases, even the venues are part of this process, when art is taken out from traditional exhibition spaces like museums and galleries, and shown in unconventional places such as streets, warehouses and abandoned places. Some artists even reverse the role of the viewer and orthographically make the viewer a key part of the piece of art. 

3 - Message
Some contemporary artists are very driven by a message that they want to spread and they use art as a means of universal communication. Usually messages have political or social relevance but in some other cases can just be strictly connected to the personal experience and life of the artist.

A buyer does not have to connect to a contemporary piece in the above ways however we recomend some form of connection because this will ensure a lasting relationship with the art bought.



Why Do Buyers Decide to Collect Contemporary Art?
There are two main reasons why buyers may decide to collect contemporary art:

1 – For pleasure. A sense of enjoyment is often connected with the decoration of one’s house, collectors are gratified by looking at it or showing it to friends.

2 - To consider the collection of art as a financial opportunity. They will therefore buy a piece of contemporary art as a financial investment, speculating on the future potential increase of value.

It is rarely suggested to buy art for investment, as the art market is volatile. Contemporary art is the most risky form of investment in the art world, especially when aimed at emerging artists. Yes, it’s true that Charles Saatchi made a fortune by investing in some emerging artists, but it’s also important for all the buyers reading this guide to be aware that many collectors have lost a lot of money investing in contemporary art. To lose money by investing in contemporary art is a less glamorous activity and as such is rarely covered by the news. However it still happens...a lot!

We strongly recommend to buy art because of a strong emotional connection with the piece. If with time the selected piece of art also becomes a good investment, that should be considered a bonus!

When buying contemporary art it is always important to rely on personal taste.



What Type of Contemporary Art Should I Buy and Where Do I Buy Contemporary Art?
Contemporary art can take multiple forms and expresses itself across a variety of mediums: painting, sculpture, photography, video, sound, installation and, in some cases, actual performances (which is obviously the most difficult type to buy).

Both established and emerging artists can be bought in galleries and art fairs around the world. This is a great list of the 10 Best Art Fairs in the World by Fortune and here a list of the top 100 contemporary art galleries in the world.

For established contemporary artists, a good way to buy great pieces is also by visiting some of the traditional auction houses or participating in the experience of an offline auction.

A significantly more rewarding experience could also be to participate in an advanced online auction that has got all of the thrill of a traditional auction, delivered directly into your living room. Oneauction not to be missed is Modern and Contemporary Art by Auctionata. Tuesday March 29 6pm CET.

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