Art
The Real Cost of Real Art: What Your Budget Can Buy
One of the most common questions about buying art when you’re first considering is what does it actually cost? If you’ve only seen headlines about million-dollar auction sales or have only seen art housed in museums, you’re not alone. The truth is, original art exists at every budget. Here is what you expect at different price points.
At $500: Starting Small and Smart
Watercolor on paper by artist Jitka Anlaufova
Five hundred dollars is where many people begin, and it offers more accessibility than you might think. At this price point, you’re typically looking at smaller works: pieces under 20″ that work beautifully in intimate spaces. While the scale may be more modest, there are a multitude of media and art styles to consider.
What you’ll commonly find:
- Works on paper: watercolors, gouache, ink drawings, collage, and photography
- Abstracts, which tend to be more accessible at lower price points than figurative or portrait art
- Small-scale oil and acrylic paintings
- Limited or open edition prints from emerging or more established artists
Where they work well:
- Gallery walls that need individual pieces with personality.
- Bedside and office tables, shelves, powder rooms, hallways, and overlooked areas of the home.
- Spaces where you want original work without overwhelming scale.
Explore art $500 and under.
At $1,000 to $2,500: Scale and Presence
Aleksandr Biruk and his paintings
Double your budget, and your options expand noticeably. At $1,000 and up, you can find medium- to large-scale pieces that can command a living room wall or define an entryway, and better access even more mediums.
What you’ll commonly find:
- More complex compositions: layered abstractions, detailed figurative work, mixed media
- Large-scale photography, often in limited editions
- Tabletop, wall-hung, and textile sculptures
- Oil and acrylic paintings of all sizes
- Works from artists with growing exhibition records
Where they work well:
- Living rooms, dining rooms, and primary bedrooms.
- Entryways and statement walls.
- Spaces where art becomes the focal point rather than an accent.
Discover curator-approved art starting at $1,000.
At $5,000 and Up: Statement-Making Art
Artist Hanji Park‘s studio
At $5,000 and up, you’re investing in art that transforms a room. This budget accommodates oversized works (48″ x 60″ and beyond) and pieces with the visual weight to anchor major spaces.
What you’ll commonly find:
- Installation art, free-standing sculpture, and outdoor sculpture
- Oversized paintings and mixed media of all styles and materials
- Monumental photography
- Highly technical or conceptually driven art
- Works from mid-career artists with established reputations or significant works from artists on the rise
Where they work well:
- Rooms with high ceilings or double-height walls.
- Outdoor or patio areas.
- Any space where the art is meant to define the room.
Explore picks $5,000 and up.
The Real Value Beyond Price
Remember, these are not rigid rules. Shopping on a global art marketplace like Saatchi Art, you’ll find figurative paintings at $500, monumental abstracts at $1,000, and emerging artists creating high-quality work well under $5,000. And where you place art is wherever it speaks to you best. The beauty is access to thousands of artists working across every medium, style, and price point—meaning what you’re looking for exists, regardless of whether it fits the “typical” profile.
Start where you’re comfortable, browse by your budget, and trust your eye. The wall that feels empty today is waiting for the right piece at the price you want to pay.
