7 tips for buying art as a couple
Ready to visit our fair with a partner? Blending tastes, deepening connections, and exploring together: on an art buying date, it’s all part of the process. Take our advice and you’ll soon be heading home with an artwork that captures your individual essence whilst also celebrating your relationship as a pair.
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Blythe Bolton
Thursday 19 December, 2024
Heading to an art fair as a duo blends all the best aspects of growing a collection of original art. It’s a great way to build your connection as a couple, share a meaningful memory, fill a blank space on your walls, and have fun doing it. Whether you’re joining us for an evening date night idea, or a relaxed day of art immersion, our fairs have long been about discovering affordable art in an environment set to inspire deeper bonds.
Purchasing art is all about connection and, just like connecting with a partner or to a new WiFi provider, it can take time. But, you’re in luck. Rather than sharing the art buying experience with a useless AI chatbot, you have the great advantage of sharing the journey with someone you already know and love.
Despite this, aligning style and taste isn’t always easy; by nature, it’s deeply personal. So, where to start?
Take a look at our top tips to be inspired and quell any reservations you might have about buying art as a couple.
1. Make time
If you’re looking to buy art as a pair, we recommend allowing 2-3 hours for your first visit. This should give you enough time to experience the fair to its fullest, including an all-important break to enjoy a relaxed coffee or glass of wine during your art-filled date together.
Controversially, commitment issues are welcome. Scheduling a 1-2 hour re-visit is a great idea if you’re the type of art collectors who like time to reflect before making a purchase. You’re always welcome to come back to the fair for free. Just ask our friendly galleries about re-eentry tickets or head to the Info Point.
2. Leave your worries at the door
The fair is designed to be an accessible place of inspiration, discovery, and fun. Take this time to nourish your imagination. Art experiences are not only culturally enriching, but also a great source of joy. As far as couples activities go, you’re onto a winner at an art fair, so forget any daily stresses and lean into the quality time spent together.
3. Split up (temporarily)
Once you’ve arrived, it’s a great idea to make a round of the fair separately on your own. This gives you the opportunity to take in the art on offer and absorb the atmosphere as an individual, without having to stop and share notes on every single piece that piques your interest.
As you weave between the aisles solo, collect photos of the artworks that catch your eye and note down the stand number or gallery name. When you meet back up, you’ll be able to compare your first impressions.
4. Play the guessing game
Top tip: It can be both fun and useful to set yourselves the challenge of pinpointing three artworks that you think your partner will like.
5. Be curious, not critical
Art is a mysterious phenomenon that speaks to the deepest parts of our unconscious. There is no right or wrong answer when it comes to the magnetism an artwork holds for us. Often, the reasons we’re drawn to certain artworks and not others can be difficult to articulate.
While it might be tempting to exclaim brutally honest rejections of your partner’s taste if it doesn’t match your own, try instead to use the opportunity to learn more about them by asking questions.
• What stands out to you about this work?
• Is there a specific place you can imagine it hanging?
• If this artwork could speak, what do you think it would say?
• Is there an aspect of the technique, colour palette, size or subject that specifically appeals to you?
• How would you describe this artwork in one word?
6. Curate and converse
Decide together which ten artworks you’d like to learn more about from each other’s list. This is when you can embark on a second round of the fair together as art buyers. Take the opportunity to ask each gallerist more detailed questions about the artworks that captured your interest. Perhaps you’d like to learn more about the artist’s technique or background. Or more logistical questions: whether they offer a payment plans, or whether they have more works available by the artist.
And don’t forget to encourage each other’s excitement and art buying confidence, because it’s always a good idea to be ready to seize the moment. You never know when another art collector has eyes for the same piece you’ve fallen in love with together. Don’t let it be the one that got away! When you’re ready to commit, you can take your new piece straight to the wrapping station and then it’s set to take home.
7. Build your collection together
Whether you make joint decisions on all the artworks you collect, or creatively combine your individual pieces, an art collection for your home is a monument to human connection. Let buying art as a couple be a visual reminder of your individual journeys, as well as the beauty of your daily commitment to sharing your lives with each other.
There are 1,000s of affordable artworks to explore at our fair, so enjoy the process of finding your match. Nurture each other’s curiosity, chat to our gallerists, and share your passions. These top tips are designed for art buying success as a couple, but you know best what makes each other tick. Lean on that knowledge and connection; you’ll soon find the artwork for you.
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