Can you really buy affordable art for the home in Singapore? How do you know what to look for? What should you take into consideration when making that purchase? Artwork can turn four bare walls into an interesting space with personality. But it can feel difficult making the right choice. We asked four experts for some great tips on finding the right piece (that doesn’t have to cost an arm or a leg!).
LivingwithArt Singapore – Zak Lo
How would you describe LivingwithArt?
Our art collection is extensive. It covers everything from 2D art pieces ranging from abstract, modern contemporary, minimalism, floral, nature and cityscape, to feng shui and 3D sculptures made of glass, bronze, marble, clay and wood.
We offer art painting customisation by designers and feng shui masters to complement your home interior design. Our team is passionate about promoting local artists’ works and providing a fantastic art appreciation experience to anyone that walks in.
What are your top tips when it comes to buying art in Singapore?
Start by referencing the overall theme of your home, followed by the style of art that piques your interest. You can then come down to the gallery to discuss these points with our art consultants. Or customers buying art in Singapore can just go with their instincts and pick up anything that catches their eye!
What services do you offer to help readers buying art in Singapore?
Other than speaking to our art consultants, we also offer a secondary solution to help with your decision-making by photo-imposing images of the shortlisted art pieces into your interior spaces. This aids better with visualisation, and enables you to feel more confident with any purchases.
What’s your starting price for an affordable art piece?
Our starting price is $25 for limited-edition art prints in the smallest size or a small ceramic sculpture.
#02-05 Tan Boon Liat Building
315 Outram Road
9826 4172 | LivingwithArt
WTP The Furniture Company – Naazli Somjee
What can customers expect from WTP’s art range?
Our artwork covers plenty of periods, mediums and styles – from mixed-media paintings, photographs and colourful prints, to elegant drawings and illustrations. Buying art can be a great investment. It will last a lifetime and also makes a statement about your style.
What are your top tips for readers who may be considering buying art in Singapore?
Make sure it’s a good fit and remember the practicalities. Take a photo of the room and bring it into the store. Take measurements of the walls, or even the furniture in the room, as it will help you visualise the piece before you buy.
Set a budget, particularly if you’re looking for affordable art. It’s even more important when it comes to art as there is an emotional connection with a certain piece. When we have clients considering buying art in Singapore we want them to purchase something they will love looking at every day.
What services do you offer customers buying art in Singapore?
If you have images and dimensions of the room where you’re looking to hang a piece of art, our team can advise you on what size would work best in that room. They’re also happy to suggest styles and colours to complement your existing pieces.
What price do your pieces start from?
Our pieces start from $290 and go up to $1,750 depending on the material and size.
WTP – The Furniture Company
3 Kung Chong Road
6235 2760 | wtpstyle.com
Talking Textiles – Deborah McKellar
What are your top tips for readers thinking of buying art in Singapore?
Go with a work that you love – the art piece that gets your soul to resonate. Recently, I bought a new piece, and I knew it was the one I wanted, because my eyes just kept on returning to it.
Buying art in Singapore for the first time can be a minefield, and those customers would also be well-advised to do some research. Visit galleries or check out articles about local artists. Also, find out where the artists are located and buy original artwork from them directly; this will help you avoid the often-hefty gallery commission costs.
When viewing art, take photographs of your favourite choices. Review them at home where you can consider your options at leisure.
What services do you offer to help readers buy the perfect piece?
My exhibition venue is also my home studio, so viewing needs to be booked by appointment. When clients have a specific wall in mind, we can create a to-scale visualisation of the artwork on the specified wall. This gives potential buyers the chance to make an informed decision when purchasing an artwork. We also offer free delivery and installation of all artwork purchases over $1,000.
Do you have what could be considered affordable art in your range?
I have two ranges of artworks – my limited-edition digital prints (reproductions), and my original artworks.
The prints are basically high-quality copies of the originals. Photographs taken of the original artworks are digitally printed on cotton canvas or paper. The starting price for an unframed paper print is $185, and $1,800 for a large canvas print.
The original artworks are mixed-media pieces that have been silk-screened and hand painted on linen canvas. The prices of this range start at $750 for a 35cm x 40cm artwork and $12,000 for a 2m piece.
Do you have care tips for people who have purchased your pieces?
Yes, absolutely! Colours in artworks or prints that that have sunlight shining on the piece will fade over time. Always dust your work with a dry cloth that doesn’t have fibres that can get caught on the surface. A chamois cloth works well. Once a year, check the back of your artwork and dust with a dry cloth.
Don’t hang framed art from adhesive-backed hooks. We strongly suggest using more secure hanging methods such as masonry nails.
Visit Deborah’s studio by appointment
talkingtextiles@gmail.com | Talking Textiles
Ketna Patel
What are your top tips for readers thinking of buying art for their home?
Research the history of the artist before you buy the artwork. Each expression that comes from the artist’s studio is like a bookmark from their creative chronology, so whatever you buy from them will be a reflection of where they are in their journey. You’re investing into an artistic journey, not just purchasing wall decoration.
Think of each room in your interior as a song you like. Let each object or colour represent a note in the song and choose the art that represents the overall melody. If we surround ourselves with objects that have meaning and symbolism then art can be seen as frozen poetry instead of, say, an empty advertising tag line.
Each artwork should have a few layers of ‘story telling’ embedded within it. If your art is intelligent, ironic, deep, colourful, interesting, eclectic, and cosmopolitan for example, it’s most likely that you will have all those qualities yourself!
What services do you offer to help readers buy the perfect piece?
I offer personalised photo collage commissions where a collector’s stories or family members can be incorporated into the narrative. For example, special dates or anniversaries, road names, houses or buildings that mean something to them, favourite foods, colours, and even themselves! The latter are disguised as Asian Pop or street characters such as taxi drivers, fishermen or hawker sellers.
I also put art on furniture so that the story, utility and sculptural aspects translate into an ergonomic fusion that becomes a talking point. My interior design and architectural background often helps when it comes to helping the client visualise the work on their walls. A bit of photoshop goes a long way!
What’s your starting price for a piece?
My limited-edition prints start at $500.
Do you have any care tips for people who have purchased your pieces?
Experiment with art applications on newer mediums like acrylic, metal or furniture. None of these three require framing and will not let moisture or spores in.
Keep art out of direct sunlight to avoid fading. When living in a humid country, buy limited edition prints on photo art paper and not organic paper, as the latter absorbs moisture and spores from the air; photo paper removes that risk.
When framing prints, avoid the glass touching the print, especially in hot countries. Ask the framer to make a box frame for a contemporary look.
Ketna Patel Art Studio (Singapore, India, UK)
contact@ketnapatel.com | Ketnapatel.com
If you’re setting up home, or just updating a few things, read our huge round-up on furniture and homewares in Singapore!
Amy Brook-Partridge
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