Are Art Prints a Good Investment?

If you’re considering investing in art, you may have thought about investing in art prints. It’s important to conduct research before investing in art, and determine whether investing in art prints is the right decision for you.

But what exactly is an art print? Should you opt for a limited edition print or a signed print? And more importantly, how much are art prints worth? That’s what we’re going to explore in this blog. Read on to learn more about art prints, and to determine whether they are a worthwhile investment or not.

What Are Art Prints?

Art prints are reproductions of a piece of original artwork. There are several methods and tools used to create art prints; all of which can impact the value of the print. Typically, art prints are created on canvas or premium-grade paper, often using inkjet printers.

Original prints Original prints are pieces of art that have been manually printed by artists. An original print will hold more value than other prints. Prints can be reproduced, whereas original art is one-of-a-kind. Original artwork will often have a different texture due to the tools used to create the art - for example, brushes and rollers.

This is unique and will tell a story. However, art prints won’t feature this texture; instead, they will have a smooth, flat surface. Prints are often created by the artist - however, they can also be produced by others, supervised by the artist. In 2009, Banksy worked with the print house Pictures on Walls to publish his prints.

Art prints are ideal for art collectors and art investors that wish to resell the artwork. It’s possible to find prints that will increase in value without breaking the bank, whether it be at an art auction, an art fair or an art gallery.

While not unique, they are often considered original artworks much like paintings and drawings - this is because they are available in editions and limited runs.

Signed and Unsigned Prints

When purchasing art prints, you will often have the choice between signed prints and unsigned art prints. The general rule of thumb is that if a print has been signed by the artist, it will be much more valuable. A signed print refers to a finished fine print with the artist’s autograph.

You’d expect a signed print to be signed by hand, and not through mechanical means of reproduction. Art collectors and art investors are generally more drawn to signed prints as opposed to unsigned prints, as they sell for more on the art market.

Limited Edition Prints

Limited edition art prints have a fixed number of prints available. Because they are limited, there is often a higher demand for them - ultimately increasing the overall value of the print.

Smaller editions will hold more value than larger editions due to the higher demand. They are usually numbered - for example, a print taken from a 100-edition set of prints may be labelled ‘5/100’.

This makes the buyer aware of the number of the print, alongside the size of the edition. You may come across ‘open edition’ prints when browsing the art market. These prints have no limit - and although they can still sell for thousands, they are typically considerably less valuable than limited editions.

Artist Proofs

Artist proofs are typically the result of test prints created by the artist in order to check the quality of the larger print run is as high as expected. Often, artists will release a small number of artist proofs - usually between 10 and 20 limited edition signed prints.

They are often more valuable than limited edition signed prints. This is because they usually have unique characteristics as found in original art.

How Much Are Art Prints Worth?

There are many factors that can determine the value of art prints - for example, how many prints make up the edition, the artist, the provenance, whether it’s signed or not, and of course, the quality of the piece. For example, a print with torn edges is likely to hold less value than a pristine art print.

Banksy prints are a great investment option - signed limited edition Banksy prints can sell for anywhere between £3,000 to over £800,000 at auction. Warhol prints can also sell for staggering prices at auction.

A Giclée Warhol print can sell for anything from £2,000 - often much more. This depends, however, on the demand, the number of prints in the edition, and many other factors. Check out this blog to learn some interesting facts about Warhol's art. A Picasso print can sell for a staggering $5 million at auction, whereas other, lesser-known prints can be sold for just $1,000.

Ultimately, art prints are a great investment. They often have a higher residual value - higher than non-tangible assets. The art market resists economic uncertainty, remaining stable in difficult times. This means you can always sell your art prints for profit.

How to Find Valuable Art Prints

Navigating the art market can be tough - it can be difficult to find the right artists to invest in, and to determine which art prints are valuable and which are not. Many people manage to find limited edition art prints at art auctions.

At art auctions, you can usually only find art from the secondary art market. At an art auction, you must be prepared to pay the buyer’s premium which can depend on the auction, artwork, and seller.

Art galleries are a great place to find art prints to purchase and invest in; not only can you view the art closely, but can get expert advice too. At Grove Gallery, we have art advisors on hand to help you find the right art prints to invest in.

As well as advising you on the art world, we can also help you sell your art further down the line. On average, we can help you to generate between 8% to 12% profit from art investment per year. Visit our London art gallery today to explore the art we have on display, or contact us on 020 8103 4905. Our friendly team is on hand to answer any enquiries you may have about art prints.