A Shopper’s Guide to ART/LA90

What’s the best way to see the fair? Your choice. Methodical people set up systems for walking through the entire grid of booths; free spirits wander. A free floor plan, distributed at the entrance, will help you find specific galleries. A $15 catalogue, designed this year in the style of a Thomas Guide, will provide more information on exhibitors and the artists they represent.

How can I get information about the art? Ask. Despite their sometimes intimidating appearance, most gallery representatives are eager to talk about their artists and they will cheerfully provide biographical and exhibition data, as well as information about materials and techniques. Slides and catalogues may be available if you want to see other works by an artist who interests you. Los Angeles dealers will also direct you to their galleries.

How much does the art cost? Anywhere from a few hundred dollars to hundreds of thousands.

How can I find out the price of the art I like? Ask. Prices are not a secret, but generally they are not posted.

Can I pay by credit card? Only at a very few booths. The Works Gallery of Long Beach and Costa Mesa, for example, takes Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Artege (which provides instant credit checks by FAX machine), but that practice is unusual.

Do dealers give discounts? Generally only to regular clients and the trade, but some may consider discounting work by emerging artists. If the art is a hot item, however, no one gets a discount.

Can I make payments over time? Possibly, if you are making a large purchase. Dealers prefer clean sales, but they often provide interest-free time payments in their galleries and some will extend these terms to fair clients.

What if I want to put an artwork on hold while I look around for something better? Forget it. This practice, while common in galleries, is frowned on at the fair because dealers don’t want to lose sales in a situation where decisions are made quickly.

How about bargains on the final day? The fair is not a fire sale, even on Monday, but dealers sometimes bargain with one another on the last day and some may be persuaded to sell at a reduced price rather than transport the work back to their galleries.

If I buy something, can I take it home with me? Yes, if you pay in full and you can carry the artwork out of the Convention Center. Unwieldy pieces are shipped after the fair.