Frequently Asked Questions
Collecting American Art
Contemporary American representational art is incredibly diverse. It includes artwork that depicts recognizable subjects—from portraits, figures and interiors to landscapes, still lifes, city scenes, wildlife, seascapes and everyday life. Styles can range from highly realistic and traditional to impressionistic and contemporary.
American Art Collector celebrates this breadth every month, introducing collectors to established and emerging artists working across a wide variety of subject matter, styles and media.
American Art Collector celebrates this breadth every month, introducing collectors to established and emerging artists working across a wide variety of subject matter, styles and media.
Start by looking—a lot. Visit galleries, museums, artist exhibitions and art shows. Pay attention to the works you keep returning to and ask yourself why they resonate with you. Don’t feel pressured to immediately define your “style” as a collector. Your tastes will develop and evolve as you experience more art.
American Art Collector is designed to make discovering art that speaks to you easier. Previews of gallery exhibitions and art fairs, as well as our Artist Focus features, introduce collectors to artists, exhibitions, events and artwork available around the country. Seeing new work month after month—and before a show or exhibition opens—helps you develop your eye, discover artists and galleries that appeal to you, and become more confident about what you want to collect.
American Art Collector is designed to make discovering art that speaks to you easier. Previews of gallery exhibitions and art fairs, as well as our Artist Focus features, introduce collectors to artists, exhibitions, events and artwork available around the country. Seeing new work month after month—and before a show or exhibition opens—helps you develop your eye, discover artists and galleries that appeal to you, and become more confident about what you want to collect.
Look for consistency, originality and a recognizable point of view. Gallery representation, juried exhibitions, awards, museum exhibitions and membership in respected art organizations can all help collectors discover artists as their careers develop and mature.
American Art Collector gives readers access through Gallery Previews, Art Show Previews, Artist Focus and special features that follow artists from their emerging years to when they become firmly established in the art world. Following artists over a period of years can be one of the most rewarding parts of collecting.
American Art Collector gives readers access through Gallery Previews, Art Show Previews, Artist Focus and special features that follow artists from their emerging years to when they become firmly established in the art world. Following artists over a period of years can be one of the most rewarding parts of collecting.
There is no single formula. Artist reputation and demand for the work, along with quality, size, medium, subject, gallery representation and exhibition history, can all influence price. A reputable gallery can be an invaluable resource.
American Art Collector shows collectors a broad range of artwork and price points through previews of gallery exhibitions, art fairs and events presented by prestigious art associations, as well as monthly Collector’s Focus sections that highlight artists working in a specific subject, medium or style. Repeated exposure to the market helps collectors develop a stronger understanding of value.
All three can provide excellent opportunities, but galleries play an especially important role. A good gallery evaluates artists, understands their careers, builds long-term collector relationships and provides valuable information about work, pricing, availability and exhibition history.Art shows bring many artists and galleries together, while studio visits can create a personal connection with an artist. American Art Collector covers all of these opportunities in the marketplace.
For most collectors, developing relationships with trusted galleries is one of the most important parts of collecting art. A knowledgeable gallery can introduce you to artists you might never discover on your own, educate you about their work, alert you to new pieces and upcoming exhibitions, and help guide a collection as it develops.
Art shows, museum events, open studios and major exhibitions are also excellent opportunities to expand your knowledge and discover new work. American Art Collector helps connect collectors with this entire marketplace through advance Gallery Previews, Art Show Previews, special features and event coverage.
Great art can be found nationwide. Major markets include New York, Scottsdale, Santa Fe, Charleston, Boston, Washington, D.C., Southern California and Texas, along with many smaller regional destinations.
American Art Collector’s Art Lovers’ Guides explore destinations such as Santa Fe, Texas, New England, the Mid-Atlantic States, Charleston and many other locations, highlighting galleries, museums, artists, exhibitions and events designed to help collectors turn their interest in art into art-focused travel.
Portraiture, figurative art, landscapes, still lifes, seascapes, plein air works, Impressionism and contemporary realism all have passionate collector bases. Popularity, however, should not determine what you buy. Seasoned collectors and gallery owners consistently advise collectors to purchase the art that moves them.
American Art Collector’s Collector’s Focus sections explore specific areas such as Impressionism, Plein Air, Portraiture, Women Artists, Seascapes, Rivers & Lakes and many others, helping collectors discover what speaks to them personally.
American Art Collector’s Collector’s Focus sections explore specific areas such as Impressionism, Plein Air, Portraiture, Women Artists, Seascapes, Rivers & Lakes and many others, helping collectors discover what speaks to them personally.
See as much art as possible. Visit galleries and exhibitions, talk to artists and dealers, and read about the artists whose work interests you. Over time, you begin to recognize the work that stays with you and understand why it has an impact.
A great collection reflects the collector. American Art Collector exposes readers to a wide range of artists, styles, subjects and price points. Buy work you want to live with and allow your collection to evolve as your knowledge grows.
A great collection reflects the collector. American Art Collector exposes readers to a wide range of artists, styles, subjects and price points. Buy work you want to live with and allow your collection to evolve as your knowledge grows.
Use American Art Collector as a monthly guide to the contemporary representational art market. Gallery Previews show you exhibitions and fresh artwork coming to market, while Art Show Previews help you know what to see before you arrive. Artist Focus introduces artists and their work, Collector’s Focus explores specific subjects and styles, and Art Lovers’ Guides introduce important collecting destinations throughout the country.
Most importantly, American Art Collector gives collectors the opportunity to see—and acquire—artwork before exhibitions and shows open and sales take place. That allows readers to contact galleries, learn about artists and even purchase pieces before a show opens to the public. The more you look, learn and experience, the more confident you become as a collector.
The majority of American Art Collector is selected by the editorial team based on what is happening in the contemporary representational art world. Advance notice of gallery exhibitions, art shows and other events is important, so if you have an upcoming opening, exhibition or significant body of new work, share the information with the editorial team as early as possible. American Art Collector also offers special-section marketing opportunities that allow artists, galleries and other art organizations to bring artwork directly to collectors and readers.
Yes. In addition to the printed monthly magazine, American Art Collector is available digitally for reading on
your devices, with current and past editorial content also available on the website. Readers can follow
additional magazine, artist, gallery and event content on Facebook and Instagram. The American Art
Collective podcast releases new episodes every other week, along with monthly First Look episodes that
preview the new issue and the artists, galleries and exhibitions inside it.
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