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How to get started as an art buyer

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Caroline Douglas

Director of the Contemporary Art Society

If you’re new to the art world but want to begin a collection, you’ll need to do your research, specialise in one area and start a relationship with a commercial gallery.


Art collectors are the lifeblood of the art world, says Caroline Douglas, Director of the Contemporary Art Society. “They keep it alive,” she insists. “We’ve seen a huge growth in the collector base in this country, which encourages emerging artists to believe that they can make a living from their work. And that is their aspiration, after all.”

Collectors encourage emerging artists to believe that they can make a living from their work.

If you’re new to the art world but want to start buying art, you need to do your research first. “You have to get your ‘eye’ in,” cautions Douglas. “Gather as much information as you can because whether you’re collecting model trains or etchings, it’s the same principle. That means reading a lot: journals, magazines and art forums. But, most importantly, see as much art as you can. Establish your frame of reference by visiting the big blockbuster exhibitions, because emerging art talent will be going to those shows, too, and potentially referencing them in their work.” Buying doesn’t have to be an expensive business either, she insists. One affordable entry point may be editions of an artist’s work.

Read a lot: journals, magazines and art forums.

If you’re serious about forming a collection, Douglas’ advice is to specialise. And finding emerging talent means building a good working relationship with a commercial gallery. “There’s a myth that galleries are terrifying places,” she says. “but they can be very accessible, and the people who run them are hugely knowledgeable and delighted to talk about their artists and their work. This can very often be done with a glass of wine in your hand at an opening. It’s a very agreeable way of learning.”

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