Where to Buy Art: Art Fairs

A hyper-realist style portrait by Aris ALOKO of a woman with waist-length dreadlocks wearing a red leather off-the-shoulder dress

So far in this Where to Buy Art series, I’ve been talking about different kinds of brick-and-mortar stores where you can buy wall art: home stores, antique stores, and consignment stores. At each of these, you’re likely to find a variety of art styles that are attractive and affordable. Now let’s explore a different option. If you feel confident about the kind of art you like and are willing to spend more on something original, consider attending an art fair for your next purchase. Some art fairs are free to attend, and others require an admission fee. Even if you don’t buy anything, art fairs are fun to attend! They’re a great way to spend an afternoon outdoors, browsing art by local artists, listening to live music, and enjoying food from local vendors.

Where to Buy Art: Consignment Stores

Map of the World in Hemispheres by Samuel Dunn (1794)

Feeling stuck on how to spruce up your bare walls? You can find a lot of inspiration by exploring a variety of places that sell art. Depending on where you go, you’ll see different art styles, and sometimes you’ll also see different ways to display art with furniture and accessories. In this third installment of Where to Buy Art, let’s take a look at consignment stores.

Where to Buy Art: Antique Stores

Slovakia folk art textile with floral pattern embroidery

If you’re struggling with what kind of art to put on your walls, I’d suggest that the first step is strategic shopping trips. Depending on where you shop, you’ll find a different subset of all the wall art options to consider. Let’s tailor your shopping excursions to your tastes! In the first article of this series on Where to Buy Art, I talk about the kinds of art you’re likely to find at a home store. Now let’s talk about antique store art. Some people can walk into antique stores and take it all in at once. I am not one of those people. I tend to get overwhelmed by the magnitude of choices, so I focus on shopping for one particular piece at a time. When I’m looking for wall art at an antique store, I home in on the walls and partitions, as you might assume. But don’t let your survey stop there—sometimes you can also find stacks of art on the sales floor or hidden in a vendor’s stall. Here are several styles of art you may encounter.