Stamford gallery encourages collecting with discounted art show

If you're on an average income, chances are you've shied away from the high-priced hobby of art acquisition.

But in reality, you don't need to make six or seven figures to start a collection. You just need to know where to look.

The Fernando Luis Alvarez Gallery will host a sale of affordable artwork at its annual "Be(come) A Collector Show," which opens with a public reception on Friday, April 19, from 6 to 9 p.m. The opening night will include wine, hors d'oeuvres and music. Gallery staff will be on hand to discuss payment plans and the principles of collecting.

"Designed around the concept that no one should be barred from experiencing the pleasure of collecting art," the exhibition will feature works that carry price tags of $99 to $999.

"What we saw before creating this show was a wide number of young professionals who appreciated art, loved coming to exhibitions and openings, but were not necessarily educated in the importance of collecting," Alvarez, the owner of the gallery, said. "I saw a great opportunity to be able to lead this generation into a newfound passion for collecting by getting in on our ground-breaking artists' work at a once-a-year exhibition that focuses on developing these new collectors."

Exhibiting artists are Silvestre Preciado of Brooklyn, N.Y., Adam Ace of Ossining, N.Y., Olga Rudenia of Belarus, Zahar Kudin of Belarus, The Colombian Seven of Medellin, Colombia, Florence Suerig of Greenwich, Damla Tokcan Faro of London/Turkey, Joe Boginski of Stamford, Jon Tsoi of Greenwich/China, Rex Prescott Walden of Guilford, Marija Pavlovska of Macedonia, Kevin Dunn of Danbury, William Nelson of Redding, Adriana Rostovsky of Uruguay/Stamford and Gordon Skinner of New Haven.