A Beginner's Guide to Collecting Original Art

Collecting original art is one of the most rewarding things you can do with your money — and it needn't be the preserve of the ultra-wealthy. Here is what you need to know before making your first purchase.

Buy what you love

This is the oldest advice in the book and the most reliable. The art market is unpredictable, and no one can guarantee that a work will appreciate in value. What you can be certain of is whether you want to look at something every day. Start there.

Understand what you are buying

Original works — unique paintings, drawings, sculptures — are fundamentally different from prints and editions. An original is, by definition, the only one. This is reflected in price, but also in the nature of the relationship between you, the object and the artist.

Do your research

Learn about the artist. Read their biography, visit their exhibitions, understand where they sit in the broader history of art. A work means more — and is worth more — when you understand its context.

Visit Mujawari Gallery

Our team is always happy to guide new collectors through the works currently on view and available to purchase. We can advise on framing, conservation, insurance and provenance documentation. Come and see us at Unter den Linden 12, Berlin.