Should You Buy or Rent Artwork?
Consider Renting If...
You don’t want to commit — at least not yet. By renting,
you can enjoy a painting that costs thousands for less than $100 a month (some pieces can be rented for less than $20 monthly). Museum rental plans typically offer a buy option, with a portion of the payments applied to the purchase price
.
You like discovering new artists. Some museums’ rental galleries focus on local and up-and-coming artists.
Consider Buying If...
You know what you like, and the price is right. Buying art as an investment is a notoriously tricky proposition, so your best bet is simply to purchase work that truly moves you. You’ll have something
you enjoy living with — and if it eventually goes up in value,
so much the better. Deals can
be found by focusing on lesser-known artists, especially
those who have the seal of approval of a gallery.
Tips and Resources
Art can be rented from
the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, the Portland (Oregon)
Art Museum, the Seattle Art Museum, the Racine (Wisconsin) Art Museum, Buffalo’s Albright-Knox Art Gallery, and some smaller local museums and galleries.
