approachable ways to start your art collection

Collecting art can feel intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be. Whether you’re new to collecting art or have already dabbled in starting your collection, it’s hard to know where to discover new artists in a way that works for where you’re at in your journey. As new collectors ourselves, we’ve discovered several avenues over the last few years that were approachable, affordable, and fun. Here are some of our favorite non-stressful ways to discover art you’ll love.

gallery openings

Specifically, galleries that focus on making art approachable or galleries that have more of a community vibe. These galleries often have new shows (usually every 4-6 weeks). Not only do they offer affordable options, but the gallery owners and staff are extremely welcoming to newbies to the art world. Where we’re located in Charleston, a few places come to mind, including The Miller Gallery, Drummond Studio Gallery, and Hed Hi. 

However, there are plenty of galleries across the country that also have the mindset that art is for all. Two others are K&K Gallery in Culver City, CA and Liz Lidgett Gallery in Des Moines, IA. No matter where you’re located, there’s bound to be a gallery that’s warm, inviting, and passionate about helping new collectors find the perfect piece.

art walks

Many cities host Art Walks throughout the year, which typically coincide with gallery openings. If you’ve been intimidated to walk into a gallery, this could be a wonderful opportunity to check it out. There’s usually a good flow of people going in and out during these events, so you don’t need to stress about whether you belong.

In addition to the galleries, there are often other artsy events happening, including live performances and music, live painting, artists and makers vending, artist chats, and more. In Charleston, there’s an Art Walk every first Friday of the month (aside from January and July). This is when galleries extend their hours for special events and openings. Since our city is walkable, this makes it very easy to pop into a bunch of galleries all in one night. Many cities and towns do something similar, so I highly recommend finding one near you.

artist collectives

Artist collectives are typically art galleries that are managed by the member artists. Typically, these galleries feature 20+ artists. Some galleries might focus only on one specific medium, while others offer a mix.

These collectives usually have a member artist working as the gallery associate for the day, so it’s a wonderful opportunity to get to know one of the artists featured in the gallery. They also usually host events, such as artist chats or workshops.

charity events

Art charity events don’t need to be a stuffy black-tie event for $1k a plate. There are plenty of approachable charity events that are super localized and focused on bringing in money to support their communities.

For example, in Charleston, there’s the annual charity event at Redux Contemporary Art Center. This helps raise funds to support local artists and community arts programs. There’s also Art on the Beach, which raises money to support the Charleston Pro Bono charity, and Mugs for Moms, which raises awareness for perinatal mental health and supports new mothers.

You don’t have to be a big spender with bottomless pockets to contribute. Many artists have affordable options to collect, and every bit of money helps these causes.

online galleries

If walking into a gallery feels too intimidating, there are plenty of online galleries that can help you discover new art from the comfort of your own home. The gallery owners do a wonderful job curating the art and ensuring their artists produce quality work. Even better, most of these galleries are extremely transparent about their pricing. So if part of your worry is not knowing if you have the budget, this can easily squash that concern.

Some online galleries that come to mind are Well & Wonder, PxP Contemporary, Liza Pruitt, The Scouted Studio, and Emily Hadley.

There are a ton of these galleries popping up, so if there’s a certain style you like, you’re bound to find the right one for you.

pop-ups

Pop-ups are a great low-key way to discover new artists. There are art and interior-specific pop-ups (usually from those online galleries and stores mentioned before). For example, The Living Room in Seattle puts together a pop-up every few months for art, antiques, furniture, and decor. There are also things like the U-Haul Gallery, which is essentially a traveling gallery.

Local retailers will also sometimes invite artists to pop up at their location for special events. For example, a coffee shop might hang paintings on its walls and host an artist talk, a women’s clothing store might have live drawings, or a home furnishing store might host a mini art market for local artists.

social media

As artists in the modern world, social media is a tool we’re lucky to have (even though it sometimes doesn’t feel that way). Artists regularly share their art online, from posting about their journey, sharing new art that’s available, giving you a look into their process, or letting you know what events they have coming up.

It’s a great way not only to discover art, but also to connect with artists more directly and meaningfully. Personally, I’ve made connections with artists over Instagram that have led to wonderful relationships in real life. I’ve also secured pieces from artists that aren’t advertised on their website. 

Comment or DM the artists with questions or things you’re interested in, because you might learn that there are lots of “hidden” pieces that can fit within your style and price range.

affordable art fairs

These art fairs are geared towards collectors who are new or who are building their collections. The Affordable Art Fair, for example, is one with plenty of pieces under $1k and an upper limit capped at about $12k. 

The Other Art Fair is another one that really focuses on making art collecting approachable, with many sales around $500. Even better, the artists are there exhibiting directly, which gives you a wonderful way to connect with them on a more personal level and potentially find the perfect piece for you.

artist “villages”

I’m not sure how to label this one. Maybe an art complex? In any case, we came across the Torpedo Factory Art Center while visiting Alexandria, VA earlier this year. It’s a 3 story complex that houses about 80 working artist studios across all mediums, art galleries, art collectives, a museum, an art school, and general attractions and workshops.

It was almost impossible to leave because there was so much to discover. There was such a range of artwork, and we got to see the process behind different work and talk to artists 1:1. It was a magical place and I can only hope there are more places similar to this around the world that I have yet to discover. It’s definitely worth a visit if you’re ever in the area.

art is for everyone. period.

And if you were ever made to feel like collecting art was out of your reach, I hope this helps you see that it’s not. There are countless ways that artists and collectors can find one another that don’t have to feel exclusive, intimidating, or like you’d have to take out a second mortgage to afford it.

Let this list guide you to discover your next favorite piece of art. Happy collecting!

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Photo note: the main image was from the 2026 1000 VASES exhibition during Paris Design Week that featured one of Ashley's vases! Focused group shows like this is another way to discover new artists to love.