FORT LAUDERDALE — In a world where a $4 million waterfront property is affordable, so is spending $200,000 on a stunning art piece for the entryway or wine cave.

That’s the concept behind Art on the Water running from Jan. 23-26, where four homes for sale along the Intracoastal will be staged with mostly modern and contemporary art works from local and international artists.

Even more unusual for an art venue, participants can only tour the homes via water taxi with departures taking place from Pier Sixty-Six Marina.

The waterfront focus “makes the event a unique fair as opposed to any other fairs going on,” said Andrew Martineau, director and founder. “We wanted to create something very unique to Fort Lauderdale and difficult for any other city to duplicate.”

Art pieces will range in cost from $1,000 to $250,000, with the works of both newcomers and established artists exhibiting side by side. The modest $180 per piece entry fee makes the show accessible to up and coming artists, where art lovers may discover a new talent, Martineau said.

“We have a lot of independent artists who aren’t represented by galleries.”

Expect paintings, photography and sculpture from 120 artists.

Last year’s 2019 event saw $30,000 in art sales along with 2,500 attendees. Work from about 120 artists were on display. One person alone bought six pieces, which means high end spenders were the exception among participants.

Martineau agrees that had to do with people being more interested in the show’s Intracoastal setting than a love of art.

“Last year a lot of people flew in primarily for the experience. Being able to go on a water taxi [and visit] these huge homes that they see on TV.”

Homes on the tour have historically been located in the Harbor Beach, Las Olas Isles and Rio Vista neighborhoods. All are vacant, ranging from 5,000 square feet to 20,000 with price tags starting at roughly $3 million. Martineau said he partners with Realtor associations in Broward and Palm Beach to choose vacant homes that will best showcase entries.

Cost to attend is $100 per person which covers boat transportation.

Artwork will be displayed in most rooms including bathrooms. A list of the homes and artists will be made available closer to the date of the show. Details were still being finalized as Waterfront Times went to press in late December.

Art on the Water is part of the umbrella Fort Lauderdale Art & Design Week, running Jan. 18-26, which will host talks by artists and curators at various locations around the city. The event is hoped to encourage an emerging art scene similar to Miami Beach’s Art Basel, which takes in December.

Exhibits, art gallery tours, talks by curators and dealers and after-event parties will take place throughout the nine days at local venues. Last year Ashley James, then of the Brooklyn Museum, was one of the speakers. Recently she became the first full time black art curator of the Guggenheim.

Bringing the art world’s trendsetters and leaders to the public is one of Martineau’s goals.