How to start collecting art online
A few simple rules to make your first purchase easier — from trusting your own eye to the difference between an original and a reproduction.
Buying art online can feel intimidating — it doesn't have to be. At Łódzka Galeria Sztuki every work comes straight from the artist, and you pay the author directly, with no middlemen. Here's how to start.
Buy what you love
The best collection isn't the "investment" one — it's the one you actually want to live with. Trust your first reaction, then come back to the piece a few days later. If it still holds your eye, it's yours.
Tell an original from a reproduction
An original is a unique work (1/1) — a second one will never exist. A reproduction is an authorised print in a variant (paper, canvas, format), often at a friendlier price. Check the listing for authorship, how the work was made and whether it is signed.
Mind the dimensions and medium
Before you click "buy", picture the work on your wall — measure the space and compare it with the listed size. The medium (oil, print, linocut) also tells you about texture and how the piece shifts in different light.
Get to know the artist
Each artist's profile shows their bio, city and other works. When you buy, you support a specific person — not an anonymous warehouse.
Agree on the purchase in your account
In the gallery’s promotional payment model, you pay the artist directly, with no gallery commission. Your order contains the bank details and transfer instructions. The conversation records your agreement, and the seller confirms receipt of payment. Before buying, check the seller’s status, delivery arrangements, sales document and withdrawal terms. See How to buy art.
You don't need to start big. One piece that genuinely makes you happy is a better beginning than ten bought out of obligation. The rest will come with time.