Buying art on holiday with @around.robyn

Whether it’s vibrant city breaks or breezy coastal retreats that you are into, holidays can be the perfect opportunity to grow your art collection. An artwork you love can remind you of treasured memories, long after the tan fades and the sand leaves your shoes.

London-based interiors enthusiast and author Robyn Donaldson, aka @around.robyn, is a lover of both art and travel – and somewhat of an expert at combining the two.

In her latest blog, she shares her top tips for buying art you love on holiday: where to look, who to speak to and how to bring it home with you.

Take it away, Robyn!

The joy of buying on your holidays is that you return with a guaranteed conversation starter, because the artworks you picked up on your travels are sure to bring back memories for many years to come. They can be time capsules that talk to your life at that time, clues about political or pop culture themes of the country or just aesthetically pleasing treasures – there really is a piece for every sensibility. I’ve got little yellow submarines with Cuban flags on (turns out Cuba LOVES the Beatles), abstracts from Chiang Mai, typography from trips to the States and so much more. As well an encountering styles you might not see at home, you’ll meet amazing makers and strike up unforgettable conversations – I can’t say enough for being an international art acquirer. If you love picking up bits but don’t know where to start – here’s my guide to hunting down pieces at art fairs abroad so you can find a favourite wherever you are on the planet.

Fantastic fairs

The least overwhelming way to get to grips with international buying is at an art fair.

No matter where you are in the world, Affordable Art Fair promises affordable, accessible art in a welcoming atmosphere. Nothing is above $10,000, so whether you’re an experienced collector on the hunt for an investment piece or an absolute beginner looking for a little something to remind you of your visit, there is guaranteed to be something for you.

While the subject matter might change, the ethos of Affordable Art Fair won’t – it’s all about taking the ego out of art collecting and making you feel comfortable browsing, chatting to the gallerists and checking out the best that that country has to offer, in every medium you can imagine. Fairs are also a brilliant way to add a little bit of structure to your itinerary, so if you’re on a city break or short trip then you can set aside a few hours and know you’ll see tonnes of amazing stuff – it doesn’t even have to be a commercial fair – inspiration destination getaways are great and we’ve had a ball visiting events like The Venice Biennale. So, if you’re looking for a one stop shop where you’re guaranteed a full art immersion experience then a fair is the place for you.

Gabbing to the galleries

The joy of Affordable Art fair is that it’s packed with a handpicked selection of local and international galleries whose gallerists all LOVE to talk about their artists and work, so make sure you get chatting to really get the best from your fair experience.

It’s a no-brainer but often people don’t do it as it can be really daunting to step into an arena you feel out of your depth in. The visual equivalent of being the person who’s asked to try the wine at dinner – big pressure you don’t always want. I know I often shy away from galleries as I don’t feel like an art pro, but I’m almost always proved wrong when I venture in and the staff turn out to be delightful. We’ve had epic chats with amazing gallerists in Vienna, attempted some appalling French with Parisian proprietors and talked the ears off people in Tulum.

The fair facilitates these exchanges in a much less intimidating way so if you love a natter AND art – AAF is the perfect gateway for gallery chat. You might even recognise a few faces – I saw people in NYC I had spoken to at fairs in London so it felt like catching up with old pals, which was dreamy and makes you feel even more at home whichever fair you’re at.

Insider intel

Ask around if you want some local intel on the greatest places to buy art and exciting local talent as you’re sure to see a load of it at the fair so you’ll be primed for what to look out for in advance. Whether that’s a hotel concierge, talkative tour guide, that lady you get chatting to in a café or fellow tourists further into their journey – word of mouth is invaluable when you’re trying to find hidden gems.

I’ve had people lead me to pictures of Raul Castro in a garage in Cuba and Tin Tin paintings on a beach in Koh Tao. Just ask about and you’re sure to pick up tips on the finest local art to hunt out when you hit the fair. If you’re a bit shy or there for a short stay, AAF has you covered – they have fair guides onsite so you have an idea of what you want to see as well as a handy ‘Fair Director’s picks’ blog post, which will signal some artists and galleries to look out for. And you can always ask the fair teams – they are super knowledgeable about the local art market (and super friendly!) so sure to be able to point you towards the kind of work that you want.

Getting it back

I have failed to buy something only to be haunted by it more times than I care to remember – I still routinely think about line drawings I stopped to look at on the banks of the Seine, and screen prints I passed up in LA. I’m currently still looking longingly at snaps of a photography print I fell hard for at Affordable Art Fair NYC by Nicolas Auvray of Galerie l’Atelier. It was a monochrome beauty of an Amish Market. It was playful, it was visually arresting and it was super American.

Another piece I fell in love with was Gigi Mills’ Orange Moon. What usually ensues when I’m in this situation and the piece is in budget is a change of heart followed by costly shipping or an inflated price for something I should have bought on the spot. So grab your work when you’re there, says I. It’s guaranteed to be a cheaper option than retrospectively buying.

That said, an art purchase can’t always be a snap decision so if you need a day to ponder, you can book a free ticket to return to AAF on your way out, so you can come back with fresh eyes if you’re struggling (although there’s no guarantee that it will still be there the next day!). And if you get home and are tortured by the fact you didn’t buy at the time, the Affordable Art Fair has a designated collection of some of the work from all their fairs at AffordableArt.com whether you’re after something from New York, London or anywhere in between. You might say it cuts out the need to travel at all, but where’s the fun in that!

Take it on the road

You can extend the paint and print party outside the confines of the fair, too, if you want a truly arty trip. The joy of art is that it’s everywhere so keep them peeled and you’ll soon stumble across something special.

Interior stores and cool cafes are prime locations for exhibitions, so make sure you create a list of crafty establishments you want to visit when you’re away. They may not always have work you like but you’re guaranteed to get a lead on other art in the area not as well known to the tourist crowd. My favourite shop find was a Martin Wittfooth we found on our honeymoon in San Francisco – flash forward seven years and we’ve got a few pieces of his work. All because I popped in to check out the candles in Haight-Ashbury.

You might come out with a tiny commercial ceramic, or a huge original oil, so never underestimate the value of the local lifestyle haunts. Another accessible way to experience art specific to that country is to look for the art schools in the area and see if they have any shows on. Buying art from emerging artists means you can support future careers and invest in really unique work you won’t see anywhere else. You can google art colleges or go to exhibitions that also retail like the Affordable Art Fair NYC focus on The Arts Student League of New York. Some of my most beloved pieces are from degree shows and some of my longest standing relationships are with artists I met at the start of their career so search out your international ingenue on the double.

“The joy of art is that it’s everywhere so keep them peeled and you’ll soon stumble across something special.”

So, there you have it – a love song to buying art abroad and some of my top tips on how to go about it. Whether you want to dedicate the whole trip to searching out special pieces or just a targeted afternoon of focused fair searching, there’s not a place in the world you won’t find amazing art guaranteed to inspire you every time you look at it.

Thank you Robyn for those fab tips to make the most out of our holiday art hunting! Check out our fairs calendar below to accompany your next trip away and learn more from our fairs team across the globe with our latest blogs?