Where to Find Inexpensive Art Part II
10 places to find art and cool emerging artists, a shop for custom mats for framing, and art tips from a professional interior designer
This is a two part series. For more tips on where to begin your search for art, how to frame art, and ideas for inexpensive art, read my Where to Find Art For Your Home, Part I
I’ve been collecting artists to share with you. From New York Design Week events, designer gatherings, gallery openings, to friend’s birthday parties, I have met quite a few artists and people who know interesting artists. Lately, whenever I meet someone who does something related to design, I write their name and company in a note on my phone along with the place I met them. This helps me remember the person a lot better than merely adding their number or following their instagram. I later add the contact info to a google sheet when I’m feeling ambitious. I recommend this contact keeping system, but if anyone else has a better one, let me know.
I’ll get right to it, here are some cool artists selling art at great price points (a range between around $100 - $3,000):
Maja-Lisa Flodin-Ali: I met Maja at a friend’s birthday party and she impressed me immediately. She does a lot of installation artwork, but I really love the art she captures of buckets of objects without using photoshop. It reads etherial and abstract.
Arabelle Creative Photography Prints: I met Arabelle at the Long Live office hours. She takes great photos, mostly of NYC, and sells her prints at Nolita Market. You can also DM her for a print.
Paper Cutes: Annie creates whimsical paper objects and 2D art with bright colors, mostly of food. She also takes commissions at an amazing price point, currently around $150-300. She is another artist I met at a birthday party, and she would be really fun to work with!
The Selects Gallery: This is an established fashion photography gallery founded by Marie Audier, who I met at Design on a Dime. She recently hosted a group of interior designers from different companies for a gathering at a french artist and designer show house called Par Excellence. The exhibit showcased photographs by a prominent New York photographer, Robert Farber, who collaborated with a very established french couture embroidery atelier, Atelier Lebuisson. It was a magical evening where interior designers swapped stories and tips over wine and cheese in a beautiful apartment.
Louisa Dunn collages and prints: A friend of mine met Louisa in Charleston and told me I’d love her work. Spot on. Her art is so happy and the price is fantastic.
Kyohei Sakaguchi pastels and paintings: I happen to work next to a very cool shop called Haco that offers artisan made tea, ceramics, jewelry, and art all by Japanese artists. One of their recent exhibits showcased beautiful pastels and paintings by Kyohei Sakaguchi, who you can read about in Apartamento Magazine.
Janet Pedersen paintings seen at Collier West: I stumbled into Collier West on a walk down Atlantic Avenue, looking for home accessories at other neighboring stores like Assembly Line, Michelle Varian, and Porta. Collier West boasts many great artists at great price points. Janet’s go for around $800-1,200, which is fantastic for oil paintings. I love that Janet Pedersen paints local scenes en plein air using lively brushstrokes and cheerful colors.
Layla Bklyn clothing, art and home goods store: my friend brought me to this boutique (across the street from Collier West) knowing I’d love everything in it. Amongst beautiful clothing, bedding, pillows, jewelry, they have framed, hand painted artwork around $300-500.
Partnership Editions: an online art store I’ve purchased a lot of art from for clients. They have a wide range of art from $100 to just under $3k, and they make it easy to browse.
Lobster Club Gallery: An art gallery online with a lot of artist I love. They have opening events in cool locations in New York and Los Angeles.
Some tips on how I found these artists and galleries:
Go on walks and pop into shops, even if they aren’t art galleries. See if there is art on the walls. Or ask a shop owner if they know any artists.
Ask your friends if they know of anyone who makes art, even if they aren’t full time artists.
Artsy.net - use Artsy to find art you like at your price range by browsing their curated works. Then go to the websites of galleries that represent the artist. Galleries tend to show artists at similar price points, so you may find other artists you like at the gallery. If you see a piece you like, and the gallery isn’t in your city, email the gallery and ask for additional photos. The beauty of art is really in the details and close ups.
Newsletters and magazines - Exhibits in New York newsletter is creating an art gallery app, but they also share a must see exhibit every week. Apartamento is an example of a great curated design magazine that highlights cool artists.
A Source for Fully Custom Mats to Elevate Your Artwork
Annie the artist showed me this Etsy shop that will make a fully custom mat board in any color and size, and deliver it to you quickly. This is ideal for odd shaped art, or for making art more interesting.
Other Oddities
TIWA Gallery: go see the Faye Toogood exhibit at the TIWA Gallery in Tribeca until next Saturday. If you miss it though, all of the TIWA exhibits are good. Also, check out Faye Toogood’s online store T-O-O-G-O-O-D. A great curation of furniture, clothing, and homeware.
This credenza with silver applique from Sawkille Co. Sawkille makes great solid wood furniture in Kingston, NY. I’m really into their handmade funky upstate cabin aesthetic.
Cute ceramic hooks: functional artwork. These are charming and come in cute colors. The company also makes tiny trinket dishes. This would be a great gift!
Yoruba Beaded Chairs: I’ve been into these for a while, as you probably know I love patterns and beaded things. These were originally made for the Yoruba Kings and Queens in 14th century Africa. They’re made from thousands of tiny beads, taking months to complete. The styles are geometric, floral, or symbols from spiritual and mythological stories. You can read more about them on Remodelista.
Lastly, message me or fill out this form if you are interested in a custom Annie Amsler designed wool rug :)
