A common perception is that buying art is only for the privileged. Do you think so as well?

I, for one, am very passionate about challenging this notion. I believe art makes a great contribution to humanity and to the individual, mentally, physically and spiritually thereby contributing to an overall sense of well being. As a lifelong art lover and a gallerist for the past few years, I believe art can and should be enjoyed by everyone. Artwork brings joy into our homes and has a unique ability to connect us to our cultural roots; it’s an extension of who we are as individuals.

Yes, there is a certain group of ultra wealthy elites who pay extraordinary amounts to buy paintings. Some of them may buy art for investment purposes, while others see their extensive collection as a status symbol. But this perception that art is only for the privileged puts up a barrier where none should exist. The fact is that it’s possible to find quality art from credentialed artists at a reasonable price.

So how do you start an art collection? How does one begin to navigate the art market and the gallery scene? At Laasya Art, here a few methods I follow to make art buying more accessible for my clients:

• • We believe that the process begins with learning about art and getting more exposure, which can be as simple as visiting local museums, galleries, art fairs and open studios. I have personally found docent-led tours of exhibitions, artist talks and hands-on workshops especially educative. View our Resources page to learn more about opportunities in the Bay Area.
    

• • At Laasya Art, we emphasize education and storytelling over sales. We take the time to explain to clients the artist’s history and journey as well as the story behind the paintings. We want clients to fall in love with a piece before making a decision to buy. It is very important to work with a gallerist who is willing to invest the time upfront to educate and expose clients to different artists and different genres, without necessarily keeping the end transaction in mind.
    

• • We consciously decided to go with a low overhead business model by operating a home-based gallery. This has helped us keep our prices competitive, thereby making our collection of Indian art more affordable.

• • We also make a conscious effort to offer original contemporary paintings at multiple price points, starting below even $1,000. We showcase works from emerging artists like Swati Pasari, Kandi Narsimlu and Deepa Vedpathak. We also offer smaller sized paintings by established artists such as Anuradha Thakur, Ramesh Gorjala and Seema Kohli.

• • We also encourage clients to explore the option of buying signed, limited edition prints by world renowned artists such as leading Indian Modernist artists M.F. Husain and S.H. Raza. The colors are stunning, and these prints have a great investment value but at a significantly lower price points than originals. A painting by Raza just sold at Christie’s Auction House for $3 million, for example, but a limited edition print can be purchased for under $1500.
    

• • Traditional Indian art, such as Kalamkari and Madhubani (Mithila) works, is a very affordable way to get started with collecting Indian art, and it also provides crucial support for the preservation of these dying art forms. Laasya Art offers a curated collection of paintings by National Award winning artists, most of whom exhibit internationally.

If you have more questions about buying Indian art, whether online or at our gallery in Palo Alto, please do not hesitate to reach out to us at info@laasyaart.com or +1 650-770-9088. For further reading, you can check out our Art Buying Tips or our recent blog post, ‘Is there a ‘right’ way to buy art?’

We are also in the midst of our annual Diwali art sale, now through November 15th, 2019. We are offering competitive prices on our curated collection of Indian art, including affordable original paintings under $2500. If you have been considering an art purchase for your home or waiting for the right moment to pick up a piece by your favorite artist, this fall might be the time. Please contact us for an e-catalog of paintings and more information on our open house dates.

Happy collecting!

— Sonia Nayyar Patwardhan