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1SET A BUDGET AND STICK TO IT. Being a millionaire isnt a requirement to start a collection, but knowing how much you want to spend is. Buying printsa limited work of art printed by hand and signed by the artist, usually with an edition number written in the bottom right cornerenables you to capture the beauty without the hefty price tag. On the other hand, investing in a one-of-a-kind piece that truly moves you can be a rewarding splurge. Great collectors buy with both their heads and their hearts, shares Golden.

2REGULARLY VISIT MUSEUMS AND GALLERIES. While galleries are always free to explore, many museums have free admission on certain days and post a calendar of events online. Instead of happy hour, head to an opening after work. They are great ways to meet artists and begin exciting conversations, says Golden. Get to know the gallerists, or gallery owners, to build a relationship so when you are ready to buy, youll have a trusted source.

3TAP YOUR CIRCLE OF FRIENDS. If you know or meet collectors, ask

for their advice, suggests Golden. Ask how they began and learn from their collecting journeys. Those in the know can point you toward emerging talent and events such as Santa Monica Museum of Arts Incognito, where enthusiasts can get their hands on work from in-demand artists, including Mark Bradford, for $350.

4USE SOCIAL MEDIA TO DISCOVER ARTISTS YOU LIKE. Art magazines and newspapers are increasingly active in the digital realm with apps, online editions and social media, Golden explains. Instagram off ers an eff ortless way to follow such artists as Hank Willis Thomas (@hankwillisthomas) or celebrity collectors such as Swizz Beatz (@swizzbeatz), who both post cool fi nds.

5 BECOME A MUSEUM MEMBER. There are defi nite advantages to membership, which include being invited to exclusive events and artist meet-and-greets. According to Golden, You become an instant part of a like-minded community, and many museums off er special membership groups for young professionals and emerging collectors.

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NAVIGATE THE CONTEMPORARY ART WORLD AND COLLECT WHAT YOU LOVE WITHOUT BREAKING THE BANK

o you want to start collecting art, but it all seems so intimi-dating? The quiet, white-walled galleries, the expensive prices and insiders lingo can leave you wondering if a Ph.D. in art his-tory is required. But buying col-lector-quality art doesnt require

a degree or thousands of dollars. All you need is a little curiosity.

There are so many points of access for learning about art and artists, whether you live in a big city or a small town, says Thelma Golden, director and chief curator of the Studio Museum in Harlem. Websites, art-market news sites and blogs o! er great introductions to art and artists working to-day.

Although nothing beats a trip to a local gallery

or one of the dozens of art fairs held nationwide such as Frieze New York or Art Basel Miami Beach, Golden says, online resources are a great way to begin the process of looking and learning.

And dont let the silence inside fool you. Art is meant to be interactive. Museums are engaged so-cial spaces that should not be intimidating or scary at all, says the curator, who insists that their hush-hush nature encourages visitors to take time to be impacted by works of art.

Whether youre looking for a sculpture or a sketch, paintings or portraits, the process is all the same. Look " rst, learn what you love, then buy, recommends Golden.

When youre ready to transform your home from a blank canvas to an art-" lled abode, grab a note-book, a good friend and set out in search of pieces that inspire you.

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70 V I S I T E B O N Y . C O M / A U G U S T 2 0 1 4

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CATCH THESE EXHIBITIONS

OPEN NOW!

Charles Gaines Gridwork

19741989Studio Museum

in HarlemJ U LY 1 7

O CT. 2 9 , 2 0 1 4studiomuseum.org

Patrick Kelly: Runway of

LovePhiladelphia

Museum of ArtA P R I L 2 7

N OV. 3 0 , 2 0 1 4philamuseum.org

Prospect.3: Notes for Now

International Contemporary Art

Biennial, New OrleansO CT. 2 5 , 2 0 1 4J A N . 2 5 , 2 0 1 5

prospectnewor-leans.org

Radical Pres-ence: Black

Performance in Contemporary

ArtWalker Art Museum,

MinneapolisJ U LY 2 4 , 2 0 1 4

J A N . 4 , 2 0 1 5walkerart.org

Made in L.A. 2014

Hammer Museum, Los Angeles

J U N E 1 5S E P T. 7, 2 0 1 4

hammer.ucla.edu

> 20x200This online gallery sells prints starting at just $20. Its slogan, Its art for everyone, could add, Its art in every size because 20x200 allows shoppers to buy limited editions in extra small to extra large sizes to fi t any home. 20x200.com

> ArtsyArtsy does for visual art what Pandora did for music: become a source of discovery and explora-tion. The site boasts more than 140,000 artworks by 25,000-plus artists from leading art fairs, galleries, museums and art institu-tions. artsy.net

> Saatchi ArtBrowse paintings handpicked by the pros themselves. In-the-know curators serve up collec-tions of work, or you can search by artists who are inspired by such masters as Jean-Michel Basquiat. saatchiart.com

A R T D E C O D E D

ARTISTS TO KNOW

Kerry James Marshall: Painter, sculptor and photographer, his work focuses on African- American identity.

Carrie Mae Weems: Best known for her gripping photography that tackles race, gender and class.

Njideka Akunyili: The Nigerian-born, U.S.-based artist is lauded for her fi gurative collage paintings of familial Black life.

Theaster Gates: Through architecture, he has become known for transforming dilapidated buildings into cultural hubs and art-fi lled housing.

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