My 10 Rules to Collecting ArtGetting back to basics this week and reconsidering a few timeless thoughts on art collecting.
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If I Only Had 10 Rules...
I'm participating in a (virtual) introduction to collecting this week and was challenged by their prompt to create ten rules of collecting. It turns out it was harder to narrow it down than anticipated but really helped me focus in on the advice I have found most timeless. This week I share my first five and next week my final five.
Top: Installation view of Precarious Hardware by Davina Semo, Jessica Silverman Gallery, 2019
Left: Joan Mitchell's "Straw" sold in July from the Ginny Williams Collection at Sotheby's
Right: An Untitled painting by Etel Adnan, whose work I learned about while touring a collector's home
My First Five Rules To Collecting Art
Train: Acquiring assets is easy, developing a good eye is much harder. Invest the time before you invest financially.
Find Your Tribe: Half of the fun in collecting is being a collector. Get involved in your local museum and go to your local art galleries-introduce yourself and you are off to the races. I learn the most about art and artists through visiting collector’s homes.
Develop Your Own Taste: You don’t need me to tell you this, but money and taste sadly do not go hand in hand. Let your own voice be your guide, not the price tag.
Craft a Legacy: Acknowledging that these artworks should outlive us all will change how you think about them. Make a plan for your collection and care for your artworks, you are only a temporary custodian.
Never Stop Asking Questions: Do not be intimidated-it is ok to ask questions. You may need to make the case to buy an artwork but don’t let this offend you. Anyone truly rude is not worth your time.
Reader Question of the Week:
How much art is too much?
Great question-and certainly I would argue that collecting can be a very healthy addiction. I would advise that you buy what you love and figure out where it will go afterwards-not the other way around. My true answer is Never Enough! but at the same time you want to be able to display as much of your collection as possible and have the time to care for it, both will get harder the larger it gets. I find too many things weigh me down, so pause whenever it feels overwhelming.
