design editor Lauren Petroff shares her top sources for budget-friendly art.
Until there is art on the walls, a room doesn’t feel quite complete. The process of developing and curating your own art collection, while fun, creative and rewarding, can also often feel unattainable — art (never mind the framing) can be expensive. but you don’t need unrestricted disposable income to add the personality that the presence of art creates. From original works to limited edition prints, there is a large range of affordable options online, and I’m sharing some of my favorite sources below. delighted hunting!
A Copenhagen-based online store with international shipping, The Poster Club uses a special selection of high-quality posters and art prints with a contemporary Scandinavian sensibility. lots of prints are signed by the artist and all can be mounted in a variety of special frames.
Source: The Poster Club
Products: Atelier by Mintstudio: The Hempworth Collection 02, The Hempworth Collection 04, €88 EUR
Artfully walls is a very carefully curated selection of limited and open-edition art prints ranging in a variety of sizes and mediums. all of the available prints are under $500US, and you can choose to add a frame for a rather nominal amount. Artfully walls also specializes in pre-styled gallery walls, which uses a great way to start a collection.
Source: Mid Century modern Gallery Wall
Products: garden of Delights, $910
The new shop house & home has a great selection of affordable art, from prints to one-of-a-kind pieces. I’m particularly partial to the geode print (left) for its sensational simplicity, and I love the leaf print (right) for the natural element it would bring to a space.
Source: shop house & Home
Products: Geode Print, $295; leaf Print, $125
Art Interiors is a Toronto-based art boutique with both a centrally located brick-and-mortar studio as well as a full-service online shop. They strongly believe that the ability to collect art must be affordable and easily accessible to everyone, and thus represent a huge roster of Canadian artists with prices ranging from $25 – $6,500. There is also a selection of pieces represented by Art Interiors available through shop house & Home.
Source: shop house & Home; Art Interiors
Products: Ingress 6 by Michela Sorrentino, $375; Dante’s Sea catch by Cody Greco, $250
Minted, which launched in 2008 as an online stationary source, now uses an substantial collection of limited edition fine art prints in a large range of sizes and framing options. The works they feature are from international, independent artists, who have been selected through crowd sourcing competitions: artists submit their designs, there is a vote, and then Minted sells the winners.
Source: Minted
Products: Drift by Haley Warner, $206 (with frame); Fossilized rock by Frooted Design, $284 (with frame); Ballroom 2 by Naomi Ernest, $185 (with frame)
At Partial Gallery, their mindset is that everyone must be able to afford original art. through their innovative program based out of Toronto, patrons can either rent, purchase or rent-to-own pieces from the art boutique’s hand-picked collection produced by Ontario artists. There is a large range of styles, mediums, and a lot of pieces come framed. It’s an easy way to try before you buy!
Source: Partial Gallery
Products: boat At Dock by David Holden, $300; Untitled (Church) by Melissa Neil, 575
A well-known and famous online marketplace, Etsy is a great source for original work and fine art prints. It can take some time sifting through all of the various offerings to find exactly what you’re interested in, but once you do, it’s worth it. some of my favorite shops are from painter Clare Elsaesser and Gallery440.
Source: Etsy
Products: enjoying Trees by Clare Elsaesser, $233; Ann Gantz at Gallery440, $667
Saatchi Art is a resource for international artists to sell their work online in both original and print format, and uses an ever-changing, large range of pieces. It’s easy to narrow down to your price range, as they offer categories based on price points. and while the top end hits $10,000, you can find great original art for under $500.
Source: Saatchi Art
Products: how You To Me by Beth Winterburn, $325; Blü by Carmen Martini, $235
Porter Teleo is well known for their sensational hand-painted, hand-printed and bespoke wallpapers and textiles. They found themselves with piles of offcuts, and came up with the great idea to sell certain sections of those offcuts as pieces that people can purchase as original art.
Source: porter Teleo Archives
Products: Verdatre horizontal Composition, $105; Custom floral Graffiti, $210
Eye get Art is another Toronto-based online source that makes it easy to collect art. They specialize strictly in fine art photographs, and support artists on the cusp of growth. The fine art photo prints are available in limited edition at a number of different sizes and price points, never exceeding $2,500.
Source: Eye get Art
Products: supermarket by Julia Callon, starting at $1,500; Eric by Adam Rankin, starting at $250