There can be a strange stigma around buying art prints. People wondering whether or not art prints are worth buying.
Almost like owning a print is somehow “less than” owning an original artwork.
And honestly? I don’t agree with that at all.
If you genuinely connect with an artwork, but the original is out of your budget (or already sold), buying a print is still an incredibly valid way to collect art and support an artist.
In fact, prints are often what allow people to begin collecting art in the first place.
You do not need thousands of dollars to own artwork you love.
And if an artist has prints available? Trust me — they want people to buy them.
Not All Art Prints Are Created Equally
One of the biggest misconceptions around prints is that they are all basically the same.
They’re not.
There is a huge difference between a mass-produced décor print from a department store and a professionally produced fine art print created by an artist.
For example, you have:
- Cheap mass-produced prints from places like Kmart, Target, or IKEA
- Artist-created prints produced on standard paper with regular inks
- Fine art or giclée prints produced using archival inks and acid-free paper
And yes, the quality difference matters.
A fine art print is generally produced using specialised printers, archival inks, and museum-grade paper designed to last decades — often 100 years or more if cared for correctly.
That naturally makes them more expensive than standard poster-style prints.
And rightly so.
The materials, printing process, and longevity are completely different.
There’s also an uncomfortable truth worth mentioning here:
Sometimes mass-produced décor prints are reproductions of artwork taken or copied from artists without proper permission or compensation.
So if supporting living artists matters to you, buying directly from artists or galleries makes a real difference.
What Is the Difference Between Open Edition and Limited Edition Prints?
This part confuses a lot of people, so let’s simplify it.
Open Edition Prints
These can continue being reproduced indefinitely.
There’s no cap on how many can exist.
Because of this, they are usually more affordable and accessible.
Limited Edition Prints
These are capped at a specific number.
For example:
- Edition of 10
- Edition of 50
- Edition of 100
Once that edition sells out, no more are meant to be produced in that size and format.
Because they are more exclusive, limited edition prints are often priced higher.
Personally, I believe limited editions make the most sense when they are truly limited.
For example:
- 50 prints at A3 size only
Are Originals Better Than Prints?
Yes.
And I think pretending otherwise doesn’t really help anyone.
There is truly nothing like an original artwork.
You can feel the texture.
>You can see the brushstrokes.
>You can experience the scale, depth, movement, and tiny imperfections that make the piece feel alive.
Even the best photographer and printer in the world cannot completely replicate that.
An original carries the artist’s physical presence in a way a reproduction never fully can.
But that does not mean prints are meaningless.
They simply serve a different purpose.
Why Are Art Prints Worth Buying
If you love the artwork but can’t afford the original (or it is already sold), buy the print.
Seriously.
You are still:
- supporting the artist
- investing in creativity
- bringing meaningful artwork into your home
- building a connection with an artist’s work
And honestly, accessibility matters.
Art should not only exist for people with large budgets.
Prints give more people the opportunity to live with artwork they genuinely connect with.
That is a good thing.
If you’re looking to buy original artworks and fine art prints from living artists, there are now more accessible ways than ever to start collecting art you genuinely love.
Prints Do Not “Cheapen” Originals
This is something I hear surprisingly often.
And personally, I don’t buy into it.
Think about how many reproductions of The Great Wave, The Starry Night, or Mona Lisa exist in the world.
Does that make the originals less valuable?
Not even remotely.
If anything, widespread love and recognition often increase cultural importance and desirability.
The original is still the original.
And collectors understand that.
What Should You Look For When Buying an Art Print?
If you are purchasing a print, it’s worth asking a few questions:
- Are the inks archival inks?
- Is the paper acid-free?
- has the artist signed it?
- Is it open edition or limited edition?
- Was the artist directly involved in the process?
- Is this artwork something you genuinely connect with?
Because honestly, connection matters more than people think.
I understand the hype around exclusivity and investment value.
But personally?
I think the best artwork purchases happen when someone keeps thinking about a piece long after they leave the room.
That emotional connection is what makes artwork meaningful.
Not whether someone else thinks it was the “right” thing to buy.
And if you’re still figuring out what type of art to hang in your home, start with the pieces you genuinely connect with first.
Final Thoughts
If you can afford an original artwork and deeply love it, originals are incredibly special things to own.
But if the original is unavailable, outside your budget, or simply not practical for you right now, then yes art prints are worth buying.
You do not need to own originals to be an art collector.
You just need to buy artwork you genuinely connect with.
And if a print helps you do that while also supporting an artist and their practice?
That sounds like a pretty good reason to buy one.
And if you’d like a little more personalised guidance finding artwork that suits your space, style, or budget, we also offer art consulting through Gallery Unbound.