Rise Art rentals: the clever way to try contemporary art before you buy
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The thing about investing in art is you have to be sure you want to look at it forever.
While that abstract scene of bloodied snow might be striking on a gallery wall, it might seem a little less palatable when hung over your dinner table.
The solution? Try before you buy: online gallery Rise Art allows art lovers to rent a piece by the month to see if it clashes with their décor, with prices from just £25 a month.
The website, founded by tech entrepreneurs Scott Phillips and Marcos Steverlynck, also lets collectors knock the rental cost off the final price if they do decide to buy.
“The art world can be complicated. There are so many factors to consider when investing as a first time buyer or as a casual collector - from whether the artist is collectible, to making sure that the artwork will fit with your interior,” says Phillips.
“We want contemporary art to be accessible, easy to understand, and simple to buy, whatever the budget, without fear of making a wrong choice and owning a piece of art which you don’t like.”
The gallery represents more than 500 established and emerging artists and its collection is selected by a team of “art insiders”, with works including prints, photography, mixed media and paintings.
