It's intimidating to buy art in Toronto. Where do you start when you don't have thousands upon thousands of dollars lying around? Glittery art fairs and wine-soaked openings will let you gaze at plenty of stunning work, but these affairs will also induce sticker shock. Luckily, this city is filled with plenty of options for newbie buyers looking for affordable but still inspiring pieces.

Here are five ways to buy affordable art in Toronto.

Head to a gallery specializing in emerging artists
Toronto has a number of galleries that exclusively feature up-and-comers. And thanks to art schools like OCAD, our city is filled with talent. LE Gallery and the Black Cat Gallery, both on Dundas West, showcase young artists. On the east side, your best bet is Project Gallery, which sells plenty of work for less than $500.

Art fairs and events
The pieces at Art Toronto may be out of reach for many, but there are plenty of other more accessible fairs. The Love Art Fair is a relative newcomer in the city - it happens annually at Exhibition Place. Shop outdoors in the summertime at various shows, including the Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition. There's also the monthly #ARTMRKT at #Hashtag Gallery.

Shop at an artist collective
By going straight to an artist, you can hand over cash directly to the creator behind whichever piece you're interested in buying. Toronto is home to a host of artist collectives. Walnut Studios sells art, in a variety of media, starting at $50 and Graven Feather on West Queen West has print work at friendly prices. Be sure to check out the White House Studio Project, Rose Will and Akin Collective as well.

Go to a photography gallery
While not everyone can afford a Burtynsky, there are plenty of other ways for you to cover your walls with prints from Toronto-based photographers. For music lovers, Analogue Gallery on Queen West is a must visit. And, once a year Gallery TPW has its Photorama fundraising event. It features (mostly) affordable work from more than 100 artists.

Online
Eye Buy Art is a notable Toronto-based site that sells work at accessible price points. While there are certainly some big names on the site, you can still find pieces for $500 (or less). Circuit Editions, formerly Circuit Gallery, is also worth checking out.

What did I miss? Add more suggestions to the comments.

Photo by Andrew Williamson