There are four main choices in buying abstract art. The costs between these can vary dramatically. Following is a brief guide to help you navigate through these options. One very safe and obvious option is to buy a print of a known and famous abstract artist such as Kandinsky or Klee or Miro or Pollack. Prints are inexpensive so I recommend spending money for a high quality frame. You will need to find a true, custom frame shop for this. Try to insure that the print you buy is large enough to suit the intended wall location. Sometimes an interior designer is needed to scale the work correctly because if the the painting is too small it will not look appropriate on the wall. Always measure before you order to insure the scale is right for the wall.
When buying abstract art keep in mind there are many, many very good abstract artists at work today. A few are quite well known and there are many more who are producing good art but are not yet on the critic’s radar. It is very possible to buy an excellent abstract painting by a contemporary artist for less than $5,000. These are usually shipped without a frame. These can be easily found by searching the internet. Again, make sure of the scale and size of the painting. It is impossible to determine if the artist you buy from will ever gain any degree of fame and if the art you acquire will gain in value. Buy it because you really like the piece. A good frame shop can determine the best frame for your new acquisition. Especially in the past five years a number of excellent art sites have become sources on the internet. They host a number of different artists and charge a percentage of every sale. You will find a wide variety to choose from.
Private galleries and showings is another choice. This will take more time but the effort can be most rewarding. Seeing an original hanging with good light represents an excellent way to decide what kind of abstract art you prefer. In most gallery showings there will be a number of pieces by one artist which gives you more choices. Cities will often host outdoor shows and for a fee an artist can set up a booth to show his or her work. You might be amazed to see just how good some of these paintings can be. In the trade we call these ’emerging artists’. Paintings hanging in galleries will always reflect a spike in pricing, especially over art that is sold in ‘open, City sponsored’ shows.