The concept of an art collection may seem overwhelming. If you don’t consider yourself a specialist, it seems that you don’t have the ability to put together a “worthy” collection, because we usually think that art is something only for connoisseurs, that you need to know a lot about history, theories, art criticism, and that you must have a lot of money to invest. None of this is true and we share with you some suggestions so that you can start your collection without fear. We all have within us tools to build an art collection, whether we have some knowledge or just following our interests, tastes, and passions.
- Ask yourself if there is a theme, style or technique that organically catches your attention. It could be something simple like you just enjoy looking at graphite drawings, or if you tend to be more attracted to very colorful oil paintings on canvas, or you like order within the chaos that exists in collages. It may also be that you like art made by women, or where the female figure appears. You may like abstraction more than figuration. You may love learning about other cultures through their art and you are often drawn to African, Asian, or Latin American art.
- Would you like to have art to decorate your spaces? Your home? Your office? Think about the dimensions, is it possible to decorate the space with very large and impressive pieces or should you choose works in small format? Keeping this in mind will avoid future inconveniences when locating them.
- The price range is very wide, so the budget shouldn’t be one of your concerns. For example, you can acquire edited works, such as photographs and prints. The editions are cheaper than the originals. Works in small format also tend to have affordable prices. Works created by emerging artists tend to command lower prices than works by established artists. By acquiring their works, you will not only be feeding your collection with pieces that may be appreciated in the future, but you will also feel the satisfaction of supporting the career of a rising artist.
- We recommend that you attend official organizations that sell art, such as galleries, art fairs, or artists’ workshops. Not only because you will be sure of the authenticity of the work, but also because the people who work in these places could advise you if you need it. If you already have some variables in mind that you would like to base your collection on, it will be ideal for you to buy from institutions that have profiles related to those variables. For example, if you are interested in collecting small format works by Colombian artists, you should visit the website or the physical location of a gallery that sells Latin American art. Or if you’re inclined towards photography, you could visit design galleries: their collection is usually vast, accessible and ranges from small designer decorative objects, illustrations, to fine art prints and limited-edition photography.
- You should also know that, as we change, our tastes and interests change, so be flexible and not try to pigeonhole yourself -and pigeonhole your collection- too much. It is natural that it will expand and perhaps take a slightly different course than what you originally envisioned. This dynamism will not only keep you motivated in the exercise of collecting, but it will also make your collection unique, diverse, interesting, and personal.
If the above tips seem too structured for you -or if you already have some works purchased-, you can just intuitively buy art that you like and that’s it. Surely when you already have a number of acquired works, you will probably notice that there are things in common in them and those things are part of your identity. Your collection can be a genuine and fun guide to self-knowledge. Through it you can identify if you have favorite colors, the moods, and emotions that you like to transit. You may notice that your vision has expanded on a topic you are passionate about or that you have chosen topics that you did not know you might be interested in. Maybe some recurring figure or symbol in your works says something about your personal history. Even your collection can speak of your personality: if you are strong, explosive, rebellious or if you are introspective, thoughtful, minimalist.
In any case, if you have decided to collect art, congratulations! Art unlike any other collectible object is not only possession and investment, it has a lot of personal meaning. Nor does it have only concrete utility: Art is matter and also soul. It is manual, digital elaboration and it is also thought, philosophy and society. Art is beauty, decoration, and enjoyment. It is gesture, color, and vibration. It is sensibility and method. Art is representation, interpretation, and communication. Art is a mirror of one’s own and an approach to the other.
Written by Ana Beatriz García,
