How To Buy Art For Your New Home

You’re moving into your new home, and you can finally do it up the way you want. The most exciting part of settling in is deciding what to buy and where to place it. And an essential detail is the kind of artwork you’ll put up. But knowing what to invest in, the names to watch out for, and even creating a budget can be a bit daunting. Worry not! Jagdip Jagpal, Fair Director of India Art Fair, breaks it down on how to buy the first piece of art that you’ll love forever.

Jagdip Jagpal, Fair Director, India Art Fair

TAKE IT SLOW

“As with picking a wedding outfit (or even the groom!), take your time in doing your research,” says Jagpal at the outset. “It’s the best way to learn about what kind of art you actually like, which is the first and only thing you need to know about collecting.”

Start off by getting familiar with as many artists and styles as possible. “Go to art websites, galleries, exhibitions, and museums. Once you find yourself admiring an artwork, its time to delve deeper into the process. Get information on when it was created, whether the artist is living or not, the condition of the piece, and its provenance or place of origin,” she advises.

If the artist lives close by, or in a city you’ll soon travel to, make sure to ask for a studio visit.“They’d be more than happy to offer insights into their creative process,” she adds.

India Art Fair facade designed by Sameer Kulavoor. Installation view, 2019. Courtesy of India Art Fair.

IF IT MAKES YOU HAPPY

Remember: always invest in a piece that you and your partner genuinely like. “Whether for passion or pure investment,there isno point in buying something that you can’t live with or look at,” says Jagpal. Things to consider are how the artwork makes you feel and whether it works with the décor of your room.

“Bear in mind where you intend to hang your artwork—a piece that fits in your sitting room might be lost in a bigger space, like an office foyer or a shared building,” she states.

When it comes to budgeting, Jagpal recommends that you set a price limit and stick to it. “Make certain that you understand all costs, including purchase, delivery, insurance, and any applicable taxes. Only once you have a complete picture should you draw up a plan.”

Have you fallen for an artwork but can't afford it as yet? Jagpal shares a clever tip: “If you set aside as little as₹5,000 a month for a year, you could end up with an incredible contemporary artwork. Moreover, to help new collectors acquire works, most gallerists are happy to offer discounts and instalment plans.”

THE FUTURE IS FEMALE

Artworks always reflect the social and political undercurrents of its times, and much like fashion, the current focus is on women. “Female talent is on the rise: be it printmakers Soghra Khurasani or Sonal Varshney, or abstractionists Parul Gupta and Chetnaa who make exceptional line drawings,” shares the expert.

Among her recommendations are Tehmeena Firdos’s watercolours, oil canvases by Project88 artist Mahesh Baliga, Youdhisthir Maharjan from Nepal, and Kingsley Gunatillake from Sri Lanka. “Limited edition books and zines by artists are also very popular amongst first-time buyers, with superstar artist Marcel Dzama’sA New Revolutionbeing an absolute sell-out at the fair.” Happy collecting!

Soghra Khurasani. Skin VIII, Woodcut print on paper in an edition of 3,19.3 x 24 inches, 2018. Courtesy of Tarq.

Soghra Khurasani. Skin VIII, Woodcut print on paper in an edition of 3,19.3 x 24 inches, 2018. Courtesy of Tarq.

Chetnaa. Idle Lines 5, Pen & ink on paper, 7x 5 in., 2018. Courtesy of the artist.

Marcel Dzama signing his 200 limited edition zines at India Art Fair, David Zwirner, 2020. Courtesy of India Art Fair.

Tehmeena Firdos. And, we disappear as smoke, 2019. Mixed media on paper. Courtesy of Art Centrix.

Mahesh Baliga. I Will Stay Here, Casein on board, 2017. Courtesy of Project88.