I don't know what it's like in your city, but in mine there's a lot of good stuff being done in university studios and there's a good art scene, though if you're not involved in it, it might be hard to find out about. I have a few friends that are painters and printmakers and they turned me on to something called "The Open Studios" which is an event that happens several times a year. Artists open their studios to the public to exhibit and sell their work. Often artists are willing to be flexible on pricing if they can see that the person asking for it is really into it or they might even be willing to trade pieces for services or goods. Anyway, you might check out your local universities for similar opportunities to get pieces of art at reasonable prices.