The art industry is experiencing its rebirth in the era of postmodernism. Objects of art made by the authors "here and now" become relevant. We can say with confidence about the emergence of a new direction, called "modern art", to which a lot of attention is riveted from all segments of the population. How to understand the modern art market, how to choose an object of art, buy it and create your own collection — read below.

What is "contemporary art"?

It cannot be said that this term includes only objects of the art industry, created by artists quite recently. «Modernity» here — it is an indication of the nature of the work, of its place within the art itself, be it sculpture, painting or graphics. Of course, at one time pop art was considered "modern", but by now it has lost its connection to time, turning into a separate direction.

Modern art should be considered the whole variety of activities of contemporary authors. Objects of sculpture and painting, circulation graphics and design elements — all this immediately becomes modern art if experts notice something different and attractive in the works. I am glad that the evaluation of objects — it is not only the work of professionals. You can learn the basics yourself, and good taste will lead even a novice collector to success.

The art industry as an element of the financial world

The variety of forms of contemporary art generates interest in it from the market. Objects become a commodity — they are bought and sold, the price and demand are growing, the threshold for entering the industry is lowering. To date, there has been a steady trend towards investing in art objects. The works of recognized masters not only do not lose value, but also become more expensive over time.

Certainly, objects of the art market have their own individuality. Therefore, the assessment here is subjective. This is what allows even novice collectors with good taste and a sense of the market to assemble a collection in a short time, which begins to rise in price rapidly. History knows many examples when the objects of "contemporary art" already a few years after the creation they were sold for serious money.

Avant-garde, neo-art, pop-art and others

A classic example of "modern art" that quickly became "acclaimed classic" and even "masterpieces" is the activity of artists throughout the 20th century. The works of avant-garde artists became famous five to ten years after they were published. For pop art, this period was reduced to a year, for neo-art — up to six months.

The increase in dynamics will only continue. The Internet has given incredible opportunities to promote artists. Contemporary art goes beyond workshops — now he is being watched over the network, and fresh works are sold out in a matter of hours. And the forerunner of this was the work of "contemporaries", who were not afraid to experiment.

Pop art revolutionized art. Those collectors who managed to see something new in circulation graphics and the denial of artistic foundations became millionaires overnight. The same thing happens with the authors of our time — a work that cost a few hundred dollars a year ago is now being resold for thousands. Celebrities cost many times more.

Contemporary art in Ukraine

On the territory of Ukraine, contemporary art occupies a dual position. On the one hand, we do not have any "artistic propaganda" that would teach the population to understand the works of contemporary authors. Until now, for the majority of the population, art — it is what is found in exhibition halls and museums. On the other hand, such "academicism" does not impose restrictions on the authors of — and real nuggets appear among Ukrainian authors, for whose works the whole world begins to hunt.

It is worth noting that several schools have now formed in the post-Soviet space that are actively working within the framework of contemporary art. Ukrainian authors manifest themselves especially brightly, in which both a rich heritage and a wide multiculturalism open to the whole world are intertwined. For most art historians of the world Ukrainian contemporary art — this is a layer of art, Specialists, taking advantage of the moment, collect works of already famous authors in the collection, watching how they rise in price.

Auctions and galleries as a way to buy art

Most often, art is bought and sold through auctions and galleries that put artists up for sale. There is both an offline sales format, when buyers are gathered in one place where art objects are exhibited, and an online format, which involves buying via the Internet.

Of course, it is better to buy serious authors after reading the work itself. However, do not discount online auctions. On them, in most cases, you can find many worthy works of contemporary authors. And although they are not so well known, but an experienced collector and online auctions can find works that will not only decorate the collection, but also significantly increase in value over time.

The most affordable are works from lottery graphics. This is the case when the work is reproduced by reprinting, and each copy is signed and numbered by the author. In sculpture, circulation works are presented with the help of impressions and cast forms. Then there are works without the appropriate design — sketches, sketches, unfinished canvases, works without a series. They cost even more. And finally, buyers are faced with fully completed works. This — top of the art market, the main object of attention of collectors and gallery owners.

Let's start looking for a job

Before you go to an art gallery, showroom or auction, you need to carefully prepare for the visit. Try to find out what authors can be found there, what is the pricing policy of the institution, whether it is popular in art history circles, whether its gallery owners have an art education and a sense of taste. You need to understand: who, how, for what money and on what scale you can buy.

Fortunately, there are a huge number of establishments where a novice collector can be offered objects at a wide variety of prices. It is best to focus on the amount from $100 for oil painting or sculpture. It is from this price that sales start on most sites where authors who have already received some recognition are exhibited. A lower price will mean that the author is either practically unknown to the public, or the work is of dubious artistic value.

As a rule, the algorithm of actions of a novice collector is as follows:

1. Carefully familiarize yourself with the list of galleries, auctions, halls, search for suitable ones in terms of subject matter and pricing policy.
2. Choosing a suitable site and studying the market situation: viewing authors who have already sold before, studying works and prices for them. Specification of the budget.
3. View catalogs and press releases published by the platform for the information of all those interested. As a rule, most of them produce catalogs that indicate what works are for sale, what works are put up for auction, what have already been bought, etc.
4. Search for works you like and, depending on the format, buy online or visit the site itself.

These four points contain a lot of work that a collector needs to do before each purchase. To facilitate this work, you can use a small hint with a list of questions, the answers to which will help you to create your own collection.

Stage 1. Selecting a work of art

• Who is the author of the work?
• Is he known in academic circles?
• What is the place of the work in the work of the author?
• What is the background of the creation of the work?

Stage 2. Financing the purchase

• Is the price in the segment of similar works?
• Have the author's works been bought for the same price?
• Is the price of this piece of art justified?
• How many works by this author have already been bought?
• Has the author been growing in price over the past years?
• Is there a demand for this piece of art?

Stage 3. Finding additional and clarifying information

• Will there be any non-purchase costs?
• Do I need to provide delivery and/or storage?
• What is the annual maintenance cost of the property?
• Is it possible to resell the object?
• Does the work fit into an existing collection?
• Will the work become a natural part of the collection?

Stage 4. Circumstances of purchase

• Is there competition when buying?
• Who sets and changes the price?
• Are there any guarantees that the prices of copyrighted works will continue to rise?

Of course, there is no certain algorithm, following which you will not make mistakes when buying. But these questions can push you to new thoughts that will go beyond the banal: “Is it expensive or cheap?”, Which will help you better decide on a specific object that is worth buying.

Aesthetic and financial benefits

Collecting contemporary art — it is an activity that cannot be called easy. However, it has several undeniable advantages that more than cover possible disadvantages.

1. Belonging to a certain circle of people. Artists, sculptors, collectors, designers, gallery owners, — this is a small but very friendly family, where almost always everyone knows everyone. Despite the peculiar closeness of the "collectors' club", anyone can get access to it, which in the future will result in new connections and interesting acquaintances.
2. Rising prices for art objects. Proper investment in the art industry often brings not only aesthetic, but also economic satisfaction. Works become more expensive, authors become more famous, owners of works — richer.
3. Hedonistic, intellectual and moral enrichment. Art — this is not only about works and galleries, it is also about the pleasure of contemplation, about new spiritual strength and the desire for self-improvement.

Advice for beginner collectors

Those who want to start creating their own collection should familiarize themselves with the realities of the market and with the pricing policy. You need to responsibly approach the purchase of each work. At the initial stage, everyone has difficulties, and you simply cannot do without small tips.

1. Constantly educate yourself. And although stupidity in art always coexists with pretentious academicism, do not forget about the constant education of yourself. The first to notice something new and promising are art critics — strive for their knowledge, but do not be like critics who only compare the "new" and «old».
2. Approach collecting as a hobby. This, on the one hand, will give you freedom, on the other hand — protect against high expectations. First of all, of course, the collector — is a lover of his collection. Strive to create not a warehouse of art objects, but a real museum of the modern art industry.
3. Choose with your heart. Art — the thing is so ephemeral that only a few can say with certainty what will become classics and what will irrevocably rot on the shelves and in the artists' studios. In the initial stages, you do not need to be "burnt" commercial art director frantically calculating future resale profits. Noticed, interested, found something for themselves — buy. Even if a work of art does not rise in price, you will get something that you are not indifferent to.

Summing up

The modern development of the market has led to the development of technologies for promoting art. Today, everyone has the opportunity to collect objects of the art industry and cultivate their own taste. The purchase process has been simplified, becoming accessible to the general population. Using the tips and tricks described above, everyone can start the long and interesting process of building their own collection of contemporary art.

KyivGallery art expert