Where to buy affordable art

Being able to afford beautiful art that makes you happy shouldn’t be an exclusive privilege afforded to a select few. In fact now more than ever, art should be accessible to everyone

To some, ‘affordable art’ sounds like an oxymoron, but it doesn’t have to be. Being able to afford beautiful art that makes you happy shouldn’t be an exclusive privilege afforded to a select few. In fact now more than ever, art should be accessible to everyone, but where does one start? There’s no need to go for the first framed sunflower you see in the kitchen section of your local chain store.

Follow artists on Instagram and keep an eye out for studio sales. This is a perfect opportunity to buy that special piece you’ve been wanting at a reduced price — when it’s meant to be it’s meant to be. Collect prints and editioned works, they are generally more affordable than originals and will also increase in value.

design

Stevenson Gallery presents Bowls, an overview exhibition of ceramics by artist-potter Hylton Nel

Here’s a big tip from curator Jana Babez, “You can email a gallery anytime and tell them what you like and what your budget is. They will put together a catalogue catered for you. Most galleries have affordable works in their collection too.” We have you covered with options that won’t break the bank.

Untitled Art

Untitled Art is a good place to start. This website based art collection service, run by two women with an exceptional eye for art, has a wide selection of artworks available at a broad price range and is one of the few places in South Africa where the art can be bought online and the shipping costs get calculated at checkout which makes it a seamless, easy-buying process.

50ty/50ty Prints

Started by Black River Studio, 50ty/50ty Prints is an online collection of limited edition screen prints made in collaboration with established as well as emerging artists, designers and illustrators. Each print is limited to an edition of fifty (it’s in the name), hand-printed on archival paper and is available exclusively on their site.

Kyle Jardine

Cape Town-based artist Kyle Jardine does beautifully vibrant freehand architectural illustrations of some of the most iconic and well known buildings around Cape Town. Jardine’s colourful prints can be found in his store at a very reasonable price point.

Visit graduate art shows

It’s the perfect time to go look at one of the many student graduate art shows around the country now that we are allowed to visit galleries again. For example, UCT’s Michaelis School of Fine Art has an annual grad show that features works from promising young artists that you won’t want to miss.