Often, visitors to A New Leaf Gallery are surprised to learn that many sculpture collectors are “window-shoppers,” but not in the traditional sense of the word. Many collectors nowadays locate, evaluate, and even purchase artwork over the Internet.
Sculpture is offered online through a variety of sources: sculpture studios and cooperatives, auction houses and non-profit auctions, art retailers and portal sites, and art galleries. Each virtual venue has its benefits, but eager shoppers also need to be wary of the potential pitfalls of buying sculpture online.
Although buying direct from a sculptor or co-op may seem appealing, your selection will be limited to the work of that particular artist or group of artists. Evaluating different choices will necessitate visiting a number of different artist sites. This can be a time-consuming and frustrating process since many (but not all) of these sites are non-intuitive to use and can be poorly executed.
Buying successfully at an online auction requires some saavy. To avoid overpaying or acquiring a piece you will be unhappy with later, you need some knowledge of the sculpture market, as well as up-to-date information on the valuation of the work that caught your eye. And you may have difficulty locating a piece that interests you, since sculpture offerings at auction are few and far between.
Art retailers and portal sites do sell a vast collection of art. The problem to watch out for here can be quality. Very often, the profit motive far exceeds the quality of the work being offered. If you are looking for gallery or museum-quality work, you may be better off looking elsewhere.
Of course I’m biased, but I believe that the benefits of purchasing online from a gallery are several. For one, a lot of the legwork involved in locating sculpture in a style and medium you enjoy has already been done for you. A gallery acts as curator, selecting only the highest-quality work of leading artists from all over the world. If you see a few works that appeal to you on the homepage, you will often appreciate most of that gallery’s selections.
When purchasing from a reputable gallery, the staff will work hard to represent your interests as well as the artist’s. You can be assured that the price of your favorite piece is representative of its true value in the marketplace, because gallery staff are both art market experts and shrewd businesspeople. They work with artists to price their pieces in a way that accurately reflects their value and does not take advantage of the customer.
Gallery staff act as go-betweens before, during and after the transaction. By working with a gallery, you will gain an objective, 360-degree picture of the piece you’re interested in purchasing. Staff associates will do research on your behalf on the medium, process and maintenance of the piece you’re considering, and can suggest other works that may be of interest to you. They can broker a commission of a unique sculpture created just for you. And their familiarity with packing, crating and shipping will make sure your selection arrives at your door quickly and intact.
Most of the sculpture offered for sale at A New Leaf Gallery and Sculpturesite Gallery’s websites can still be shipped for Christmas delivery: visit us today!
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