Unspoken rules of the art market

As a new collector, the art market might feel like an impenetrable club. It need not be. Collecting is simply an extension of your personality.
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Photo ArtsHub; National Gallery of Victoria, 2015

Walking into a gallery and trying to decide what to buy can be daunting and an auction room can be even more confusing with its pace and premiums. So how do you break down those barriers and become part of this collecting world?

The simple answer is to ask questions. The myth that the art world is an unapproachable club, is belied by the truth that dealers are passionate about their work and enjoy sharing their knowledge. After all, they are in the business for a reason.

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Gina Fairley is ArtsHub's National Visual Arts Editor. For a decade she worked as a freelance writer and curator across Southeast Asia and was previously the Regional Contributing Editor for Hong Kong based magazines Asian Art News and World Sculpture News. Prior to writing she worked as an arts manager in America and Australia for 14 years, including the regional gallery, biennale and commercial sectors. She is based in Mittagong, regional NSW. Twitter: @ginafairley Instagram: fairleygina