PlotArt · A buyer’s guide
Buying original art
in Ireland.
Find a work you want to live with. Understand what you’re buying, what the price includes and how to take the next step with the artist.
Start with the artist
Where can you buy original Irish art?
You can explore work through an artist’s own studio or website, a physical gallery, an exhibition or an online gallery. The useful starting point is a particular artist and a particular work: who made it, what it is, whether it is available and who will arrange the sale.
PlotArt brings individual artists’ galleries together online. You can read their biographies, see each artwork in full and check its stated medium, dimensions, asking price and availability. When a piece interests you, send an enquiry through PlotArt to the artist.
How buying through PlotArt works
PlotArt introduces buyers to artists. It does not take payment or deliver artwork. The artist arranges any sale with you directly, including payment, collection or delivery. An enquiry is a way to ask questions; it is not a purchase or a reservation.
For names you already know, use the A–Z of artists in the Artists’ Gallery. If you are beginning with a style, explore abstract and contemporary Irish art.
Original painting, original print or reproduction?
Read the description rather than relying on the word “print” alone. An original print can be a work made through a printmaking process; a reproduction reproduces the image of another artwork. A monoprint may be a unique work, while an edition may contain a stated number of impressions. The artist’s description should explain the particular piece.
Ask what you will receive: a unique work, an editioned print or a reproduction; the materials and support; any edition number; and whether it is signed. If the description combines processes, such as printmaking with hand-applied paint, ask the artist to explain how that work was made.
These distinctions matter when comparing prices. Two pieces with similar colours and dimensions may be different kinds of object. For background on the terminology, see the National Galleries of Scotland’s introduction to monoprints.
The price of a particular work
How much does original art cost in Ireland?
There is no single price that describes original Irish art. Compare the asking price of the specific work with its medium, size, whether it is unique or editioned, the artist’s practice and what is included. A small reproduction and a large, unique work are different purchases.
On PlotArt, the artist supplies the asking price. “Price on request” means you need to ask the artist for that information. The list below shows available works and the prices currently published in their galleries.
These are the artist-supplied asking prices for works currently marked available in PlotArt. They describe this collection, rather than a market-wide price range. Confirm availability and the total cost with the artist before buying.
| Artist | Artwork | Asking price |
|---|---|---|
| Leah Hewson | Blowout Series II #1 | €10,000 |
| Leah Hewson | Blowout Series II #2 | €10,000 |
| Leah Hewson | Blowout Series II #3 | €10,000 |
| Leah Hewson | Blowout Series II #6 | €10,000 |
| Leah Hewson | Blowout Series II #7 | €10,000 |
| Leah Hewson | Blowout Series II #10 | €10,000 |
| Leah Hewson | Blowout Series II #11 | €10,000 |
| Leah Hewson | Blowout Series II #12 | €10,000 |
| Leah Hewson | Blowout Series II #14 | €10,000 |
| Leah Hewson | Blowout Series II #15 | €10,000 |
| Leah Hewson | Blowout Series II #19 | €10,000 |
| PIGSY | As I Say It | €4,500 |
| PIGSY | Non-Serviam | €14,000 |
| PIGSY | Insatiable Greed | €11,000 |
| PIGSY | Walk Your Way | €7,500 |
| PIGSY | Sacred Words | €4,500 |
| PIGSY | Hope | €7,000 |
| PIGSY | There is Always Another Matthias | €7,500 |
| PIGSY | Suspended | €7,000 |
| PIGSY | An Offering | €7,000 |
| PIGSY | One Two Three (iii) | €9,000 |
| PIGSY | Disconnected Head | €900 |
| PIGSY | Void | €1,250 |
A published price does not by itself confirm whether framing, VAT, delivery or installation is included. Ask the artist to confirm what applies to the particular work.
Compare the total cost
- Framing: is the work framed, and are the stated dimensions for the artwork or the frame?
- VAT: does the quoted total include any VAT that applies?
- Collection or delivery: who arranges it, where can the work be sent and what will it cost?
- Installation: does the work need particular fixings or professional installation, and who arranges that?
Ask for the agreed work, price and arrangements in writing before paying. Choose a piece for its artistic and personal appeal.
Choosing a painting or artwork for your home
For a room-by-room approach, read how to choose art for your living room, with a printable buying checklist.
Compare proportions before choosing a work with the free PlotArt art size calculator. Enter the furniture or clear wall width and the outer artwork dimensions to see the relationship.
- Begin with your response. Spend time with the image and the artist’s description. Look for something you want to return to, beyond a colour match.
- Measure the space. Check the artwork’s actual dimensions and any frame dimensions. Mark the outline on the wall with removable paper to help judge the scale.
- Read the medium and support. A work on paper, a canvas and a sculptural object can need different display arrangements. Ask the artist about care, light and hanging.
- Look closely. Ask for additional photographs or details if surface, texture, condition or colour is important to your decision. A screen cannot show every quality of a physical work.
- Confirm the details. Availability can change. Ask about the exact piece, the total price and whether an in-person viewing can be arranged.
Ready to ask about a work?
Open the artwork page and choose “Enquire about this work”. Give the title and ask about the details that matter to you. PlotArt passes the enquiry to the artist so they can reply directly.
A useful first enquiry
Is this work still available? Could you confirm the total price, whether it is framed, the overall dimensions and the collection or delivery options? I would also like to know whether a viewing is possible.
Take the time you need to understand the work and the arrangements. Each artist’s gallery is a starting point for that conversation.