Unfiltered #1 - BUYING AN ARTWORK ? THE CREDO OF 4 TRUTHS WORTH KNOWING.

To kick off this series of short articles... Let's start with the basics, the key points to remember when it comes to buying art as to "even" things out...
Do you feel that art is necessarily too expensive, or on the contrary, that if it isn’t expensive, then it isn’t art at all? 

Do you consider yourself in the category of those who say, "I love art, but I don't know much about it"?
Well, I beg to differ ! Buying a work of art is neither reserved for an elite of insiders nor is it only for the wealthy...

To combat this paradigm, I like to remind people of my "credo" which, from my point of view, everyone should have in mind when visiting galleries, art exhibitions and fairs, or even online art marketplaces...

1 - First and foremost, art should be about emotion…listen to YOUR heart !
The fundamental vocation of art is to resonate with YOU, to stir feelings and elicit YOUR emotions. The feelings an artwork will trigger, whether positive or negative, is a personal and subjective matter.
Your emotional reaction to a work of art belongs to you, and it should not be dictated by an art “expert” who might say, "You don't like it? But it was made by that renowned artist who’s exhibited at ‘whatchamacallit’ and is even in “what's-his-name's” private collection!"
All the more so when you begin to consider purchasing an artwork, one that will be with you, day in day out… Acquiring art can be likened to falling in love with someone.

2 - The emotion stirred by a work of art isn’t directly proportional to its price tag, and vice versa...
An artwork priced at 500 euros, or less, can trigger deep emotions, perhaps even bring you to tears. This holds true even if it was made by a completely unknown artist at a local art fair, and inversely, how an artwork worth several millions can leave you “impassive”. Hence, regardless of your budget, it's entirely possible to discover a work of art or an artist with whom you will feel a connection! While your budget may guide your ultimate selection, it is not the cost of the artwork that ultimately determines its emotional significance to you... or the absence thereof!

3 - The most renowned artists began their careers with inexpensive, affordable artworks. 
The price of a work of art doesn’t necessarily reflect the artist's talent, but rather the extent of their recognition within the art market. So, just because something is labeled as "inexpensive" doesn't mean it’s "worthless." It's often because the artist has not yet achieved international acclaim or in prominent galleries and garnered by important collectors (though there are exceptions to this rule, of course). This is what the phrase "the artist has good ranking" implies, even though its true meaning lies elsewhere and can be misleading. However, that is a topic for another discussion...

4 - Buying a work of art should be about pleasure, before even considering it as an investment. 
Certainly, there are individuals who acquire art as an investment, engaging in speculation akin to trading in financial markets. However, this represents only a fraction (approximately 1%) of the art market in terms of the number of artworks sold. But that's not why I created Art Traffik. When people ask me, "What art should I invest in ?", I always reply "First, tell me what you like, what moves you, and what you'd like to see in your home everyday." So, the first step to buying art is listening to your heart, let it be your guide!
(Well, I admit, I also say this because, at Art Traffik, our curated selection of artists and how we promote them has resulted in the growth of our catalog at an average rate of 10% per year... but that's another subject…) 

We'll meet again soon to discuss prices, how to negotiate, where to buy and buy savvy, etc etc etc! There's a lot to be said and to be explained to help you wander peacefully throughout the art market and let you experience the PLEASURE of acquiring an artwork that will adorn your interior.

Read the series