Thinking about buying art? Here's where to begin

A thoughtful and practical guide for starting your art journey.

Sometimes it starts with a glance. Something catches your eye at a fair, online, or in a space where you weren’t expecting it. And suddenly, you're wondering: could that be something for me?

Buying art isn’t like buying a chair or a lamp. It asks for attention, time, and trust. But the beginning is simple: just look. See what’s out there. And notice what stays with you.
Curious why galleries still matter in an online world? Read more about that here: Why buy art from a gallery.

Where to start: fairs, platforms and personal guidance.

Explore Dutch art fairs

Fairs make it easy to see many galleries and artists side by side. You walk, compare, ask questions. No pressure to buy, it’s about looking, discovering, and understanding what resonates.

Each fair has its own rhythm and character. A few good places to begin:

– Art Rotterdam (March – Ahoy, Rotterdam)
Cutting-edge contemporary art, with large installations, emerging talent and international galleries.

– KunstRAI (April/May – RAI Amsterdam)
Colourful, accessible, and a strong mix of established names and new voices.

– PAN Amsterdam (November – RAI Amsterdam)
A refined mix of classic, modern and contemporary art, design and photography.

– Unseen (September – Amsterdam)
Focused on contemporary photography. Compact, bold, and full of new perspectives.

– Art on Paper (February – Amsterdam)
Intimate in scale, with works on paper in all its forms: drawing, collage, and more.

If you're based in the Netherlands, these fairs offer a great opportunity to see what the local art scene has to offer, and how much it varies.

Go to one or two. Walk around. Pause where you want. You don’t need to know anything beforehand — curiosity is enough.

Prefer to browse online first?

GalleryViewer is a great place to start. It brings together artworks from respected galleries across the Netherlands and Belgium. You can search by medium, size, or price — or just wander through and see what catches your attention.

There’s also plenty to read: interviews with artists, thoughts on materials, technique, and how certain works came to be. These stories offer insight — and sometimes, a reason to return to a piece you didn’t expect to linger on. If you're not sure where to begin, this kind of context can make all the difference.

If you're looking for something more specific, we once put together a small guide:
10 Captivating artworks under €1,000

Commissioning a work is also an option

Often people know exactly where something should go but haven’t found the right piece. In that case, a commission might be a good fit.

We can digitally place a work into a photo of your space, just to see how it feels. No obligation. If it clicks, we’ll discuss the possibilities with the artist. Some clients prefer to do this remotely, others enjoy coming by the gallery or visiting the studio. Most commissioned works are completed within two to three months.

And installation? Depending on the size and complexity of the piece, we’re happy to arrange that too.

It’s okay to take your time

Some decisions come quickly. Others unfold over weeks. Tape a rough format to the wall. Ask questions. Doubt a little. Come back later.

Let the work grow on you. You don’t have to be sure right away. Sometimes a piece keeps coming back to you days later — that’s worth noticing. Screenshot it. Save the artist’s name. Come back when it feels right.

Talk to the gallery. A good gallery won’t push you. If something interests you, say so. Ask where it was made, how the process works, how a piece should be handled. The more you ask, the more you’ll understand what matters to you.

Ask about framing. Some works are ready to hang, others might benefit from framing — and the right frame can make a quiet work sing. We’re always happy to advise.

Consider scale. A small piece in a large room can still hold its ground. Don’t assume bigger is better. Trust your eye, or ask for a quick mock-up to get a sense of how it might feel in place.

Curious to learn more or start the conversation? Email us at contact@root.gallery.

Photography by Jacqueline Fuijkschot