Halloween Art Collecting Primer Part II: Finding Your Treasures

The thrill of the hunt is one of the most exciting aspects of collecting Halloween art. Read on for some of my favorite places to pursue jaw-dropping pieces.

I traveled all the way to All Hallows Art Fest in California to meet fellow North Carolinian Tara Wilson - look at her beautiful jewelry

If you haven't read my Part I yet, you can access it here.

Direct From the Artist

It is likely you’ll find some of your best treasures by following artists on social media and subscribing to their email newsletters, Substacks, and Patreon (if applicable). 

✨Pro Tip: Our Artist Directory is the perfect place to start your hunt✨

If you love an artist, I highly recommend signing up for their newsletter so you don’t miss any news due to social media algorithms. 

Jorene’s Blog

Our very own Jorene, showcases some amazing art on her Shivers of Delight Blog. 

Specialty Halloween Art Shows

Fortunately for collectors, there is an abundance of both national and local level shows. Over the past several years, there has also been growth in traveling oddities and curiosities expos which often include work that Halloween collectors snap up. 

The two largest national level shows are All Hallow’s Art Fest in Petaluma, CA and Bewitching Peddlers of Halloween in Marshall, MI. Unfortunately for hardcore collectors, both are typically held on the last Saturday of September. Once in a blue moon, the universe shifts and they are on different weekends so collectors can attend both.  

In addition to national level shows there are local, state, and regional level shows and I predict this is where the growth will be in the next several years. Two fantastic regional level shows include Monsters & Merriment (October, TN) and Darksome Art and Craft Market (October, PA). 

People travel in from all over to attend these shows. Their enthusiasm to catch a special piece is electric. Some collectors set up camp early to secure pole-position places in line. But, don’t let that discourage you! There is an abundance of goodies at the shows. First AND last in line will both be able to take home wonderful treasures. Do be aware though, that getting in line early sets you up to find the best selection.

Dead daisy by Sam Keck

Any Art Show or Fair

Not to be overlooked, any art show and fair can yield amazing Halloween art. There’s nothing that beats the high of being at a “regular” art show and finding the perfect spooky piece. Always be on the hunt! One of the most common finds at regular art or craft shows include glass or pottery jack o’lanterns. 

Online Shows 

During the pandemic, there was an explosion in the number of online art shows. Some have dropped off, but online shows will continue indefinitely. Darksome Market holds four virtual markets per year. All Hallow’s Art Fest typically does an online market after their in-person show. 

Since 2010, the Eclectic Halloween Artist Guild (EHAG) has offered new art on the last day of the month by various artists with a monthly theme. The styles and mediums of the artists vary.  

Shops and Art Galleries

I could spend years writing up all the cool shops and galleries that carry Halloween art all year. I’ll include some in future blog posts. This is why traveling and art collecting fit so well together. If you are traveling to a new city, search on the internet to see if there are any places to go hunt. Recommended search terms include “Oddities + city name” or “dark art + city name”. The top locations in the US for Halloween art shopping are Southern California, Salem, MA, and New Orleans, LA. 

Kitchen witch found in a toy/puppet store in Greece

Etsy

A few years ago, Etsy was a top place for finding new artists. Due to changes in their policies (increasing their cut and allowing mass-produced items) some artists have migrated off the platform. It’s still a great place to look, but it’s not as fruitful for finding new artists as it was in the recent past.

A Note on Investment

Like most interests, this is something you can do on a modest budget or make more significant investments in. It depends on your budget and tastes. If you like artists who are receiving national attention, you will need to invest more to get their work. Many of the top artists receive national kudos in magazines like Country Living and Better Homes and Gardens. Artist Vergie Lightfoot’s work was once used to decorate the set of The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Keep in mind, when you buy original art, you aren’t just paying for the piece, but the years of learning, formal training, materials, and hard work the artist needed to become exemplary in his or her medium. To stretch their budgets, many collectors mix reproductions and originals. 

Now that you’ve read about collecting, go out there and get started!