5 ways to buy affordable art in Toronto

It's intimidating to buy art in Toronto. Where do you start when you don't have thousands upon thousands of dollars lying around? Glittery art fairs and wine-soaked openings will let you gaze at plenty of stunning work, but these affairs will also induce sticker shock. Luckily, this city is filled with plenty of options for newbie buyers looking for affordable (we're talking around $500 or less), but still inspiring pieces.

Here are five ways to buy affordable art in Toronto.

Head to a gallery specializing in emerging artists
Toronto has a number of galleries that exclusively feature up-and-comers. And thanks to art schools like OCAD, our city is filled with talent. LE Gallery and the Black Cat Gallery, both on Dundas West, showcase young artists. On the east side, your best bet is Project Gallery, which sells plenty of work for less than $500.

Art fairs and events
The pieces at Art Toronto may be out of reach for many, but there are plenty of other more accessible fairs. The Love Art Fair is a relative newcomer in the city - it happens annually at Exhibition Place. Shop outdoors in the summertime at various shows, including the Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition. If you're looking for something a little more intimate, there's the new monthly #ARTMRKT at #Hashtag Gallery.

Buy directly from an artist or artist collective
By going straight to an artist, you can hand over cash directly to the creator behind whichever piece you're interested in buying. Toronto is also home to a host of artist collectives. Walnut Studios sells art, in a variety of media, starting at $50 and Graven Feather (a studio, store and gallery) in West Queen West has print work at friendly prices. Be sure to check out the White House Studio Project, Rose Will and Akin Collective as well.

Go to a photography gallery
While not everyone can afford a Burtynsky, there are plenty of other ways for you to cover your walls with prints from Toronto-based photographers. For music lovers, Analogue Gallery on Queen West is a must visit. Sports enthusiasts can check out SPORT Gallery in the Distillery District. And, once a year Gallery TPW has its Photorama fundraising event. It features (mostly) affordable work from more than 100 artists.

Online
Eye Buy Art is a notable Toronto-based site that sells work at accessible price points. If you want to learn more about the artistic process, visit Wondereur. This award-winning project combines art with photojournalism. While there are certainly some big names on the site, you can still find pieces for $500 (or less). Circuit Editions, formerly Circuit Gallery, is also set to launch soon.

What did we miss? Let us know in the comments.

Photo by Andrew Williamson

by Amy Grief via blogTO