Melbourne Fair Director’s Guide to Buying Art

Georgia Huestis is our expert Melbourne Fair Director, who joined us in 2019 with a wealth of experience in commercial galleries and museums, as well as having participated in art fairs as an exhibitor across the globe. With over 50 galleries joining us for our third edition, what a delight it is to be back where it all started under the newly restored heritage dome of the Royal Exhibition Building.

Over to Georgia for her tips and tricks!

1. Do Your Research

Before attending the Affordable Art Fair, take some time to research the participating galleries and artists. We released our full gallery list last week, have a good scroll through to start putting together your art wish list.

2. Define Your Taste

Understand your personal aesthetic and the type of art that speaks to you. Explore different genres, mediums and styles to identify what resonates with you on a deeper level. Trust your instincts and follow your passion when collecting artwork for your home.

3. Set a Budget

Affordable Art Fairs all have a wide price range and diverse art styles, so searching and finding that perfect artwork for your taste, space and spend is all part of the fun. Remember, affordable art doesn’t mean compromising on quality or artistic value. There are remarkable artworks available at various price points. When perusing the fair aisles it’s all about discovery, so be sure to keep a keen eye out for our hot pink ‘Under $1,000’ stickers dotted around the fair.  

4. Engage with our gallerists

We pride ourselves on hosting friendly and welcoming fairs, with expert galleries who are there to help you find the artwork you love. During your visit, make sure to interact with our gallerists who will all have their own visual language and will be more than happy to share insights with you into the particular genre of artwork they represent. If you love a work but it’s perhaps too big or just out of your budget, do chat with the gallerist who may well have a hidden gem tucked away in storage.

5. Discover fresh finds

We love nothing more than supporting the careers of artists early in the piece. Our ‘Discover: Young Talent’ platform will present the work of five artists under 30 and gives you the chance to collect fresh and affordable finds. Read up on our 2023 artists here for the inside scoop.

6. Trust Your Intuition

At the end of the day, trust your intuition and follow your heart. Art is subjective, and your personal connection to a piece of art is what makes it special. Don’t be swayed solely by trends or outside opinions; choose what speaks to you and what will make you smile each day.

You’re all set to discover the joy of collecting art at our upcoming Melbourne fair this August. Our gallerists, artists and team all adore helping fair goers fall in love with quality original and affordable contemporary art. Whether you’re an experienced collector or a first-time art buyer, we look forward to helping you find that perfect piece at Affordable Art Fair Melbourne.

What are you waiting for? Snap up your 25% off Advanced Tickets to the fair now.

Main image: Georgia Huestis on the Bluethumb stand at our 2023 Affordable Art Fair Sydney