Our team is dedicated to finding and telling you more about the web’s best products. If you purchase through our links, we may receive a commission. Our editorial team is independent and only endorses products we believe in.
We like
We don't like
My apartment is a collection of art that tells a narrative about my life as a whole. My frames hold a memory of a time I felt something too big to put into words, or an art project I half finished in an attempt to fill an emotional void, or the last category—something special a friend gave me that made me think of them. Whichever option it may be, each piece of art is in some way special to me and has created a miniature gallery in my home.
Do you know that feeling of unease when someone else’s apartment is completely devoid of art? Art is what makes the home whole, but it may seem like an impossible mission to get started if you’re not already ankle deep in the art world. Collecting is completely subjective, but in an effort to inspire those that are not art inclined, I have created a round up of my favorite places to begin your journey.
Prints
Art collection can seem like a tedious practice reserved for the bourgeoisie, but there are many options for those of us with a starter budget. Prints are just as beautiful as first-edition artwork, but at a fraction of the cost due to the fact that there are multiple copies of a piece. Although these are copies of originals, they are just as special and allow you to own a piece of artwork that would otherwise be inaccessible to those that don’t bid at Christie’s auctions.
One of my favorite places to search for prints is large online collectives like House of Spoils, which host an array of artists' works and allow you to choose from multiple sizes and configurations to purchase. The artwork featured in this collective is from independent photographers whose work is centered around life’s riches (i.e. sunny beaches, fancy cars and beautiful women). Each piece is printed on heavy matte, artist-grade photo paper using archival inks—meaning they’re made to last forever. House of Spoils will also frame the print for you via their website, which has an abundance of options.
If rock and roll is more your style check out Sonic Editions. Here you can find iconic photography of your favorite musicians and movie stars. Their collection houses photos of Kate Bush, 2 Pac, and Madonna among others. Each print is limited edition and numbered. Sonic Editions offers framing services as well.
If photography isn’t your style, Drool has a wonderful collection of graphic prints available in a variety of styles. On the site you will find unique, mid-century designs. If you are completely lost you can use the Art Finder Quiz which helps match you with your perfect art style. Once you find something you like, you can choose between several sizes and have them framed before delivery. Another great feature of Drool is their gallery wall bundles where matching prints are handpicked and sized to fit together as an installation when displayed. The pieces come framed and ready to be hung wherever you want to display your collection.
Just when you thought art couldn’t get any more niche–say hello to the Risograph. This form of printing, similar to that of a screen print, is one of the most interesting forms of printing you can find. Unless your friends went to art school, most people you know probably don’t even know what it is, but this gritty form of art has resurfaced in recent years as a favorite among collectors. To add another benefit, most Riso prints are sold by smaller artists, meaning they will most likely be unique to you and most of the time they are no more than $20 a piece. You can shop for Riso prints at collectives like Secret Riso Club, Can Can Press and Quintal Atelier.
Originals
If you are in the budget for original artwork, try searching places like Instagram and TikTok for up and coming artists that you are interested in. You can usually find original pieces by your favorite artists online, or you can email them to request custom pieces.
One of my favorite artists is Anastasia Inciardi, whose claim to fame are her relief prints of iconic foods like San Marzano tomatoes and bagels with lox. You can pick up her larger scale prints on her website, but my favorite way to shop Inciardi is by finding one of her 24+ vending machines that are placed around major cities like New York and LA. For just four quarters you can collect one of her specialty prints and start a mini gallery collection–the full line up of locations can be found here. Some other artists I admire are: Donald Robertson, Sasha December and Roxy Peroxide. I am inclined towards bright and cartoonish artwork, but you can surely find any type of artwork from pop art to impressionist.
Another great place to source art is on Etsy where the millions of listings by artists are at your fingertips. You can find sculptures, oil paintings, watercolors, metalwork and more. It may take a few hours to scroll through and find something that strikes your fancy, but using keywords like “original art” along with the medium you are looking for should help narrow down your search.
For a well-curated collection of artists try Tappan Collective. Tappan has curated thousands of artworks; everything from sculpture to drawings and photography. Similarly to the Tappan Collective, The Artling is also a collection of artworks curated in a wide breadth of styles. You can find sculpture and photography among other artwork on The Artling. Buying from a dealer like Tappan and The Artling may come with a higher price tag, but it also comes with the added security of buying from a professional art seller.
DIY
Some of my favorite pieces in my collection are those I have made myself. Although I have made a career off my artistic side, you do not have to be art inclined in order to make beautiful artwork. The best way to get started is to get inspired by searching online. Check out these Textured Wall Art and DIY Plaster Art videos to get started.
Remember: anything is art, so the best thing to do is get your hands dirty and feel like a kid again—what comes from that could be a masterpiece.
Framing
Nowadays, most places you buy art and prints online also allow you to easily request framing through their website. If you do find yourself in a situation where you need a frame, don’t worry there are plenty of easy options. My tried and true is Frame It Easy, where you can choose between hundreds of combinations of frames and materials for your art. You can add a custom matting (which they will help you calculate the dimensions of) and choose exactly the right size frame. The frame will be shipped to your doorstep with easy instructions on how to put it together. If you are framing something as simple as an average size poster, you can also search for frames on Amazon. I’ve had luck with Golden State Art.
If you are worried about having to frame something yourself, the next best option is to find a local framer and put the work in their hands. With years of professional experience they’ll make sure your art is safe and secure in whatever frame you want.
Now that I’ve given you the tools to find art, go forth and create your dream home gallery!
