#4The Trap of "Picking the Right Art" That Beginner Art Collectors Often Fall Into
Are you buying for fame or value?
For a while, I was completely captivated by that artist's work.
The way ink bloomed on paper, the freedom in each brushstroke, the subtle layers beneath the colors—there was something fearless in those paintings that I deeply admired. A kind of boldness I didn’t have myself. So I started collecting only her work.
This one is by that artist. (The framed one in the center)
Photo by ©Christine Bae
My art studio
And this is mine.. Maybe because I was influenced by her, my style has some similarities too.
Photo by ©Christine Bae
Red ceiling 73W x 100H cm 2022
Color on pressed rice paper mounted on canvas
I thought, maybe if I surrounded myself with her paintings while I worked, I’d start to paint more boldly too. (Not that I bought many—I’m a struggling artist myself, not exactly swimming in cash.)
Then one day, the artist said something to me:
“I really appreciate that you love my work, but if you want to become a serious collector, you should buy from well-known artists. My work doesn’t make money.”
Those words stuck with me.
So.. Was I really spending all that money for nothing?
I started wondering what it would mean to collect with profit in mind. So I took a step back from painting and spent some time thinking.
Should I try collecting for money instead?
After a brief period of doubt, I came to a conclusion: chasing profit alone is not the path I want to follow.
Yes, capitalism loves money. The art world loves money. But art should be something different—at least, that’s what I believe.
Image source: FreeImages.com
"Dollar banknotes hanging on clothesline"
If you're approaching art as an investment, don’t go for a quick flip. Wait. Believe in the reason you invested in that piece, and hold on.
The problem starts when people blindly follow trends without understanding why they’re buying. That’s where the cycle repeats.
So if you don’t yet have your own criteria for collecting, maybe it’s time to pause and think.
If You're Choosing Art Just Because It's "Famous"
Back during COVID, the art market exploded. Everyone was saying, “Art is the next big investment.” Prices for well-known artists skyrocketed. Even works by emerging artists sold out—not always because people loved the work, but because they expected the artists to become famous
image source: artsy.net
It was just like the stock market.
Everyone kept saying,
“If you buy Samsung Electronics, you’ll make money eventually.”
But did that really work out?
One thing’s for sure: if everyone’s rushing in, it's probably already too late.
image source: yonhapnews
Same with art.
The idea that "if it sells well, it must be good" is a misconception.
So is “It’s expensive now, so it'll get even more expensive.”
That artist told me once:
"For beginner collectors, buying works by famous artists is the safer route. Try collecting art prints from established names."
At the time, I even considered buying a piece by Park Seo-bo, one of the hottest artists in Korea back then.
He was like the Samsung of the art world. A true heavyweight in Korean modern art.
His signature works are monochromatic and minimalist.
Ecriture No.4-06, trial proof, 76x56cm, 2006 © Park Seo-bo
Image Source: Today Newspaper (https://www.ntoday.co.kr)
And while I do admire his work…
I realized I didn’t love it so much that I was dying to have it.
And more than anything, the price was just too much. A print—not even an original—was over USD$10,000dollar!.
In the end, I never bought it. So, at least I don’t have a painful story of investment failure to share.
If You're Choosing Art Just Because It's "Pretty"
Let’s be honest.
When most people shop for art, the first question they ask is:
“Is it pretty?”
They want something that looks good in the living room. Something that adds to the atmosphere without disrupting the vibe.
I totally get that.
For instance, when I see paintings by Woo Kuk-won, I often think,
“Wow, that’s cute. I’d love to hang something like that in my home.”
His pastel-toned, charming illustrations are beloved by many.
Ugly Duckling © Woo Kuk-won
image source: biz.chosun.com
Korean collectors, in particular, tend to favor art that’s cute, pretty, and easy to digest.
They’re more drawn to works that are comforting than those that are experimental or challenging.
That’s probably why more and more artists are gaining popularity through Instagram rather than traditional gallery shows.
Copyright © Lee Young-ji
A forever radiant moment, 2025, Powdered pigment on Korean paper, 130.3x162cm
Image source: sun gallery
But here’s where we need to pause.
“Is this painting just pretty, or does it have something deeper behind that beauty?”
If you're buying based only on looks, that’s art consumption—not collecting.
If You're Choosing Art Just Because It's "Selling Well"
Another common mindset is:
“What’s trending right now?”
At exhibitions, on YouTube, in galleries—people ask,
“Which artist is hot right now?”
And then they buy based on sales volume.
But when did “best-selling” become equal to “best”?
During the post-COVID art boom, this mindset was everywhere.
Pretty works by trending young artists were flying off the shelves. Prices soared, simply because demand was high.
But now? The secondary market tells a different story.
Image source: KBS news
A lot of those once-hyped paintings are now flooding Korean online auctions—Reports say that over 70% of pieces fail to sell at auction.
The herd mentality of “everyone’s buying, so I should too”
—led to an oversupply of “pretty trash,”
and blurred the standards of quality in the art market.
Is it just me who feels that way?
Trends Come and Go, but Standards Stay
So here’s the question I want to leave you with:
Is collecting famous art really collecting?
If you don’t even like or understand a piece, but you buy it just because it might sell well later—is that really the art experience you want?
Art is about emotion, taste, and connection.
I didn’t buy that artist’s work I mentioned earlier because it would sell.
I bought it because I loved it.
And I have no regrets about that choice.
In fact, it helped me trust my own instincts more.
I believe the biggest trap beginner collectors fall into is this:
“They didn’t buy because they loved it. They bought because they convinced themselves they should.”
If your collection is being shaped by market trends, YouTubers, or algorithmic recommendations—
then you may have lost your own taste in the process.
And that’s the real loss.
Setting your own standards—that is the true beginning of collecting.
Why I’m Writing This Blog
I’m sharing this because I want people to better understand the heart behind my work.
To understand a piece, you have to understand the artist.
And if you get a sense of how an artist lives, thinks, and spends their days,
you’ll see the art in a whole new light.
In the end, a work of art isn’t separate from its creator — they’re one and the same
When you buy art, you’re not just buying an object.
You’re buying a piece of the artist's life—their time, their thoughts, their world.
So if you’re currently browsing for artwork…
Take a moment and ask yourself:
“What kind of value am I investing in?”
Once you have an answer to that question, you’re no longer a beginner collector.
Author: Christine Bae
Who is Christine Bae?
I’ve been working as a full-time artist for seven years now.
As a professional painter with a passion for collecting great artwork, I’m excited to connect with people who share that same appreciation.
I don’t sell originals online, but I do offer art prints as a way to share my work more widely.
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Follow me on Instagram: @christine_baeks
Watch more on YouTube: Solo Exhibition Video
Originally published at Christinebae.com
This article was written by Christine Bae.
Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited. All copyrights belong to Christine Bae.
Copyright © Christine Bae.
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