How To Buy Contemporary South African Art

“Buy it because you love it!” is the cliché you hear when it comes to buying art – but is there more to it than that?

Go to graduate shows to discover new works by emerging artists:
Art school degree shows are ripe for discovering new talent and buying more affordable work and are held in November – December each year. Contact schools such as Michaelis School of Art, Stellenbosch University or Johannesburg University – details of all the art schools can be found in the South African Arts Information Directory.

When buying art by emerging artists, look for an identifiable style and staying power:
Look for artists with a recognisable style, so you can say, "Ah, yes, that's by so-and-so!" Having a strong visual identity is key for artists whose work is going to increase in value. Also, when looking to buy to invest, look for new artists committed to their practice, meet the artists at graduate shows and get a sense of those who are passionate enough to still be doing it well into the future - it'll make their work more valuable in the long term.

Be brave with your choices:
Try to move towards things you don't recognise and away from the clichéd and mass market. Push your boundaries of taste. You obviously have to connect with a piece, but be brave and look to buy work by artists doing something different, who have created a unique visual language that you haven't seen before. Original artists will probably prove to be trendsetters.

Don't be afraid of buying online:
There are many advantages to buying online - the artwork is often more affordable as the gallery's overheads are much lower. Some advice though - do your research on the gallery and the artist - from write-ups, by word of mouth and from people who have bought there. See if the artist has won prizes, where they have exhibited and who else sells them. It's also always important to be able to call and speak to somebody ath the gallery - you want to know a gallery is manned and an ongoing business.  Get certificates of authenticity. These are important for selling the work in the future. Check the returns policy - it should be at least 7 days. That erases any scary risk element. Also, in can be difficult to get a sense of scale when buying online - map out on our wall with masking tape where the picture will go so you get a sense of how the piece will hang.

For more information contact: www.StateoftheArt.co.za