Everyone’s idea of affordable is different but for the purposes of this post, I’m talking art for under $500 and, in many cases, under $100! All Australian and available to buy online from the comfort of your own home.
These guys, husband and wife duo Jaynie and Nathan Johnson, remain in my top 10 because they continue to produce fantastic affordable prints and wall flags which are always featured by the glossy magazines. They’re also really nice people, and that’s important too!
A small but lovely collection of prints and wall hangings, available to buy online from $49.95. Grab one of their gorgeous Fig & Melon candles while you’re there. Delicious!
Made mainstream by Dan and Danni on last year’s The Block and an appearance on the cover of Real Living mag, Melbourne artist Andrew’s colourful abstract work is becoming very collectible. I’m a big fan. You can buy artist edition prints from $159 from his online store.
Anna White is a designer and self-taught artist based in the NSW Blue Mountains, whose work I’ve admired for a long time. As well as taking commissions, she sells prints for less than $30.
Otherwise known as illustrator Kelly Smith, you can buy her limited edition prints online from a very reasonable $50. Definitely for the ladies and the fashion lovers, it’s no wonder jewellery designer Samantha Wills chose to collaborate with her on her stationery range and packaging. The graduate of the Tasmanian School of Art has seen her work featured in Vogue Australia, Russh, Nylon, InStyle and many more.
Also from last year’s list, Urban Road are going nowhere (as far as this list is concerned!) In terms of buying large, affordable art on canvas, in a variety of sizes, that’s suitable for the renter to put up with 3M hooks, you can’t beat them! They also release great new collections regularly and designer Suzie Atkin has her finger on the pulse of what’s trending and likely to sell well. This year she also introduced the option to have a shadow box frame around the canvases too. There’s free shipping on all orders in Australia and to some international destinations as well. Canvases start at $120.
Owned and operated by talent management agency The Jacky Winter Group, Lamington Drive was established in August 2008 as a gallery space and associated online art store, dedicated to showing the work of its clients. This is the best place to buy the super feminine and gorgeous work of Melbourne fashion illustrator Megan Hess (prints from $250), who drew the Sex and the City book cover. Its bricks and mortar HQ is at The Compound Interest Centre for Applied Arts in Melbourne’s Collingwood.
Sydney blogger Simone had the great idea to produce some affordable black and white wall hangings this year with feel-good slogans in a variety of lovely fonts. They come ready to hang and they’re easy to incorporate into any colour scheme. A mere $40 including Australian shipping!
Emma Cleine’s work has really taken off this year, being stocked in many great retailers and featured on the The Block Sky High. A lot of her lovely prints are available for less than $200 unframed. The former school teacher is based in the Mornington Peninsula.
Alan Walsh is a Pom living in Sydney and, if you’re a fellow Sydneysider, something from his collection inspired by our most well known suburbs would make a great buy. $100 unframed or $250 framed. Bargain!
What are your favourite affordable art destinations? I’d love you to share them in the comments!
18 replies on “10 places to buy affordable art, updated for 2013”
Great selection Jen -thank you! I love that you are keeping it real and offering affordable choice options. We are currently saving for an amazing original painting in the 2K plus range which will fill one wall up nicely but as a result we need some other cheaper options for our other walls that still are beautiful but that don’t break the bank! I’ve bought some gorgeous prints online from Driftwwod Interiors……who also designs for the Designer Boys Collection…just to add to your already great list.
Jen, i just had to let you know that I follow your blog religiously and it’s exactly what inspired me to start my own business online. I sell canvas prints (a few under $300 which is what made me decide my to comment here) and I’m just about to branch out into tableware and general homewares. It’s only a tiny company that opened their virtual doors for trade in July but I’ve got some really big plans for the future. When I’ve got the ball rolling, expect to see me back, asking to be featured on your blog. 😉
I’m 25 and before my business began, I went to uni. I tried course after course but struggled focus and direct my creativity. All hope seemed to be lost and I went to work in ad admin role for a big company. I spent my time at my desk reading interior design and fashion blogs when I should have been doing paperwork and data entry. *yawn*
After reading your blog and following your facebook page, I realised there were other interior enthusiasts around who were creative (just like me) and some of them were probably never going to be passionate about working for a boss (just like me!). I set a plan for my business, cut my ties and hit the ground running and I now have something that I’m really proud of. I owe that to the inspiration your blog has given me. I now know that there is a huge community of people out there who share my passion and what could be more satisfying than going into business to share that with the world?
Please don’t EVER stop blogging. My thoughts and ideas are inspired by what you write and the pictures you post. And when things don’t seem to be working, I just jump online and have a quick read of an old blog post to remind myself that this is what I love and it’s what other people love. I’m living a life that I created, not just one that happened to me.
Rock on Jen! <3 <3 <3
Great art makes a room. I’m off to do some exploring ….
Great article Jen.
I love your blog, but I am sorry. Typography and graphic design is not art. It will never be collectable and will only ever be consumable. I’d like to see a post on affordable work of true, bonafide visual artists. A great example would be saatchionline.com with many genuine collectable works and emerging artists for sale at less than $1000.
Hi Paul. Totally get your point and I like to think I’ve included a good mix of art prints, illustration, typography and graphic design that will appeal to my readers. I am open to doing further posts on affordable originals though if you have more examples in the under $300 bracket? I have a guest post planned on how to choose original art and why to invest in it in the coming weeks actually. I hope you’ll enjoy that one more. Thanks for your comment. Jen
Jen, thanks for taking the time to reply. At $300 the best option is always to go direct to the artist, as that way, collectors avoid the exorbitant and cost-prohibitive gallery commissions that often apply. Of course, the big question is, how does one find artists without going to a gallery? And it’s a tough one. I am always on the lookout for new and emerging artists and I have found them at markets (Fitzroy’s Rose St Markets are a good start), through forums online, at gallery exhibition openings (new artists like nothing more than free champagne and the chance to meet art fans), events like the Affordable Art Show (which I believe is making a comeback under a new name) and of course, word of mouth. Ask around and you will be surprised how many of your friends know a friend of a friend who is an artist.
Also, people should be aware that art is not just painting. As Hena points out, it is also photography. It is also digital, screen-printed, offset print, sculpture and so on. All worth investing in. Anna is also right in that there is nothing better than the satisfaction of owning original works, but price shouldnt be an excuse for not buying original art. The most beautiful art I place in my own home every pay week is a few bunches of fresh flowers!
Thanks so much for the feature Jen and for including Lona de Anna amongst many talented artists!
Just to clarify art comes in many shapes and forms , Art is the expression or application of human creative skill and imagination, typically in a visual form. Many of these artworks are in fact original artworks created by these artists. What myself and many of these artists have done is offer our artworks in print form in order to make them affordable to the general public who otherwise cannot and may not ever be able to afford to purchase original artworks themselves. Original artwork is NOT affordable, even if under $1000 sadly this still may be out of a persons price range. If it were Im sure it would be the first option people go with when searching for fresh new artwork for their home. Having an original artwork in your home is beyond thrilling, apart from it being a great investment, to connect with an artwork and find a piece that truly resonates with you is a beautiful feeling, but this does not mean that one cannot form this connection something they find visually beautiful and captivating that so much so that they want for it to have a place in their home. It brings me great joy to be able to offer affordable pieces of artwork prints that were created with love.
You have to check out http://www.ineednicethings.com
Australian based and affordable.
An interesting selection.
I noticed you didn’t include any photography.. there are numerous brilliant photographers out there who I’m sure could make your list.
Not to be spammy but thought this might interest you http://www.henatayebphotography.com
Agreed.I could probably do a top 10 just on photography. I will at a later date. thanks for your comment!
Hi Jen and readers,
I recently purchased a beautiful piece of art from http://www.artfido.com.au.
I decided if I was going to spend up to $500 or $600, that I wanted something that was original and not mass produced. I would highly recommend, there is lots of great art at various prices!
Hi Jen,
This is a wonderful blog! Thanks for your beautiful and inspiring work!
Thanks Kathy! 🙂
Great list of sites to buy art but I guess it would be much affordable if you could buy the artwork straight from the artist or his website.
Hi there. In almost every example here you’re buying direct from the artist’s website.
Hi Jen, loved this post so much gave me inspiration to post about creating an affordable art display for my home office, using some of the artists above. Thx
Hello Interiors Addicts! We would also love you to check out affordable art at http://www.everythingbegins.com. We have curated an amazing collection from some of the world’s best emerging artists. We sell affordable art and limited edition prints – mostly illustration and graphic / typographic prints. We also have some great sculptures and plate art.
Great roundup. http://Www.endemicworld.com should be on your list too. Based in nz they ship worldwide and have quite afew Australian artists.