3 Tips For Buying Aboriginal Art

Aboriginal art is a particularly interesting area of the art world – from ancient to contemporary, this style of artwork represents a continuous cultural tradition that is exciting to explore. Whether you're new to collecting art or you're a seasoned collector just getting into this particular area of the art world, you could use some tips for buying great pieces of aboriginal art. Take a look at some aboriginal art-buying tips that you need to see.

Buy Ethically

You don't want to overpay for your artwork, of course, but you do want to pay a fair price, and you should also want to make sure that the artist is being appropriately compensated for their work. This is known as buying ethically.

There are a couple of ways to be sure that you're buying ethically. One is to buy directly from the artist (this also helps guarantee authenticity) but if you're like most art buyers, you're working with a dealer or art gallery. So how can you ensure that you're buying ethically? Ask if the seller belongs to an art trade association, and if they adhere to a code of ethics that specifies guidelines for treating the artist fairly.

Avoid Fakes

Fakes are nothing new in the art world. The practice of passing a piece of art off as the work of a well-known artist when it was really made by someone else entirely has been around for as long as art has been around. Forgeries are sometimes touted as a particularly pervasive problem when it comes to aboriginal and indigenous art, but the truth is that you can find fakes in any part of the art world.

One way to avoid being sold a fake piece of aboriginal art is to choose sellers who specialize in aboriginal art. If they base their reputation on selling this specific type of art, the discovery of a forgery would probably not be worth the blow to their standing in the art world. A dealer that doesn't normally focus on aboriginal art would have an easier time passing off a forgery as a one-time mistake. You should also ask for certificates of authenticity for anything you buy. And remember, deals that seem too good to be true usually are. If you get the sense that something isn't right, listen to your gut.

Buy What Appeals to You

Art as an investment can be tricky – even art made by a famous artist may not grow in value as much as you'd expected, particularly if they flood the market with their artwork. When you're first getting into shopping for art – or shopping for a particular type of art, like aboriginal artwork – it's best not to worry too much about whether or not you'll make money on it later.

Instead, look for pieces that speak to you or that seem like they would fit well with your home's décor or the types of artwork that you already have displayed. In other words, buy what you like, even if you don't recognize the artist's name. It's reasonable to think that if you like it, others will too, so it may grow as an investment. And even if it doesn't, you'll still have a piece of art that you enjoy, so you won't be losing out. Once you become more familiar with this field of artwork, you'll become better at spotting good investments; however, since you can't ever guarantee that any piece of art will grow in value, it's always better to choose something you like.

Art is more difficult to purchase than other valuables, and aboriginal art can seem particularly tricky. However, when you choose something that you like and ensure that it's authentic and that the artist is being treated fairly, it's hard to go wrong. Contact an art shop like Gallery Phillip for more information.