Art fairs can be overwhelming. The variety of artists and mediums in a sea of identical, uninspiring booths canmake it difficult to distinguish the good from the bad. And although many art-fair attendees are just in it for thebrowsing, those who want to buy artwork face a difficult vetting process. Local art dealer William Shearburn, owner of William Shearburn Gallery (665 S. Skinker, 314-367-8020, shearburngallery.com), has a wealth of experiencemaking art-fair purchases for both himself and his clients. Here are his tips for making a wise investment.
Buy at a reputable art fair. Renowned fairs like Expo Chicago and Art Basel, which are gallery-driven instead of artist-driven, have a strict vetting process for the galleries that present work, which means you don’t have to be worried about the auth-enticity or quality of the art available. You may also be able to find out about the artists who will be showing beforehand.
Consider the future. American historical material from the ’60s and ’70s has done extremely well in terms of holding its value, especially in the styles of pop art, minimalism, and abstract expressionism. If you’re looking at the work of a younger artist, don’t think about the value too much—just consider how much you like it and whether you can afford it.
Ask questions. As a viewer or a dealer, when you find something that catches your eye, you want to learn as muchas you can about the artist, such as how the work compares to the maker’s other work. If you’re looking at an established artist, you can also look at auction records and other dealers that have sold that artist’s work to check the price.
Art Fairs, Near and Far
Saint Louis Art Fair September 5, 6 & 7
5–10 p.m. Fri, 11 a.m.–10 p.m. Sat,11 a.m.–5 p.m. Sun
Downtown Clayton, 314-863-0278,culturalfestivals.com.
Schlafly Art Outside September 5, 6 & 7
5–10 p.m. Fri, 10 a.m.–10 p.m. Sat,noon–4 p.m. Sun
Schlafly Bottleworks, 7260 Southwest,314-241-2337, schlafly.com.
Expo Chicago September 18–21
6–9 p.m. Thu preview, 11 a.m.–7 p.m.Fri & Sat, 11 a.m.–6 p.m. Sun
Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand, Chicago, Ill.,expochicago.com.
Missouri MOSAICS Festival for the Arts September 19, 20 & 21
4–9 p.m. Fri, 11 a.m.–9 p.m. Sat,11 a.m.–5 p.m. Sun
520 N. Main Street, St. Charles, 314-482-5476, stcharlesmosaics.org.
Historic Shaw Art Fair October 4 & 5
9 a.m.–5 p.m. Sat, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Sun
4200 Flora, 314-773-3935, shawartfair.org.
Art Basel December 4–7
3–8 p.m. Thu, noon–8 p.m.Fri & Sat, noon–6 p.m. Sun
Miami Beach Convention Center, 1901 Convention Center, Miami Beach,Fla., 305-673-7311, artbasel.com/en/miami-beach.
