A Key Collecting Mindset

During year 1 of the pandemic, we were initially nervous about how our business would pan out, and soon worked our tails off to meet a higher demand than we had ever seen. 

So many of the new prospective clients approached us with a similar mindset: “We know no one’s coming over anytime soon, but we’re ready to buy some art”.  I hadn’t considered how guests could serve as a motive for art buying, but hearing on repeat that clients wanted art purely for their own enjoyment felt right.  It also aligned perfectly with our consistent effort to source art that speaks deeply to individuals.

Now, we’re not hearing that as much because social lives are thriving, but increasingly we’re getting some version of, “No one outside of us is going to see this so [no need to get anything interesting]”. Or similarly, “My mother can’t stand X so let’s stay away from that”. Of course, everyone cares a smidge or more about what other people think, but building an art collection is not the moment to uphold an image for other people’s convenience.  Consider how empowering it would feel to buy art just for you and those you live with. There is no doubt that this freedom would result in a collection with more punch, and specifically, a personalized punch. 

The best collections reflect all the nuances of our complicated personalities - there is tension, beauty, thought provocation, fantasy, hurt, and so much more.  Having visuals for these different sides of you can be as therapeutic as the modern psychology strategy of naming your feelings. And, as our designer friend Santi Thomas once shared, in his words, “good, personalized design is the best form of self-care”. 

We agree, which leads us to the biggest tips for new buyers and seasoned collectors: buy art that is interesting to you through its composition, its media, and the artists’ story behind the work. This mentality will guide you through much art buying uncertainty and free you from unnecessary limitations that prevent you from creating an inspired, personalized space.