No, artifacts are found when you want them to be found. They are supposed to be plot points, not toys for the party to adorn themselves with.
My group found a minor artifact at level 4, the Orb of Golden Death from the Temple of Elemental Evil, but haven't used it. They know it's evil, and they know they need it. They're waiting until they absolutely have to use it. They hope to be able to destroy it after they use it.
Another example of low level artifacts is the adventures "The Sentinel" and "The Gauntlet," which are designed for 3-6th level. The Sentinel is a goodly artifact that was created to destroy the Gauntlet, an evil, destructive artifact. The party finds the Sentinel in the first adventure, which then leads them to face the Gauntlet in the second. The Sentinel is sentient, so it pretty much forces the bearer to fulfill its mission, or else it denies its powers. The adventures conclude (hopefully) with both artifacts destroyed.