I’ve been thinking about dabbling in the art collecting world. Now, I’m not running out to buy an original Matisse or Picasso today, but I am looking into new artists who I think have real promise and a unique perspective. I have some art in my home and each piece has a special significance to me:
– an oil painting I bought on the street in Soweto, South Africa
– 2 small water colors I purchased on Karlov Most in Prague
– a print of orca whales from my trip to Alaska
– an impressionist style print that my brother-in-law (who happens to be a remarkable painter!) got for me in Chelsea
– a chalk drawing, Beast of the Forest, done by a 6th grader and gifted to me by the Crayola Factory after I did some work with them
– A tucan painted on a feather that I picked up in Costa Rica
– A small collection of photos I took during the month I spent in France before business school
I was surprised to realize that almost all of the art I have I purchased while I was traveling. It’s the best kind souvenir – art captures the essence of the culture where it was created and so it can transport you back to that place just by being in its presence. Though vacations are often filled with a myriad of activities, I always find that it’s the art of the place that I remember most. Incidentally, my framed art pieces were among my only possessions that survived my apartment building fire 2 years ago. I’ve always believed that somehow those pieces of art were supremely protected in an effort to support my own healing that I would need in the aftermath of that event.
In the last few months, I’ve thought about starting to collect art more seriously and went looking for some resources on how to begin. If you’ve ever been curious about taking up this venture, too, here’s what I found:
Jen Bekman
Art collecting has primarily been a pastime of the well-to-do, and there’s a pervading feeling tat if you have to ask too many questions about a piece of art, then OBVIOUSLY you don’t understand it. This is absurd, and Jen Bekman decided to change that. Bekman is a radical in the art world, meaning she didn’t follow anyone else’s road – no matter how well-traveled and time-tested it was – and decided to build her own path instead. At the ripe old age of 32, she opened her own gallery to support new artists and collectors alike. When she established her space on Spring Street in 2003, Jen wanted it to be a different kind of environment: one where everyone is welcomed as they enter and one that encourages people to ask questions.
Leveraging the power on e-commerce, she also started an online program called 20X200 that brings art to the masses wherever they happen to live. The e-commerce site continually rotates an exclusive collection of photography, prints and paintings, with prices that start at at $20. Makes good sense for emerging artists and collectors alike!
deviantART
I met the fine folks from DeviantART while I was speaking at SXSW last in March. They had set up a gallery space filled with so much beautiful graphic art that I felt like I had fallen down the rabbit hole into a world of vibrant color.
From their website: “deviantART was created to entertain, inspire, and empower the artist in all of us. Founded in August 2000, deviantART is the largest online social network for artists and art enthusiasts with over 13 million registered members, attracting 35 million unique visitors per month.
As a community destination, deviantART is a platform that allows emerging and established artists to exhibit, promote, and share their works within a peer community dedicated to the arts. The site’s vibrant social network environment receives over 100,000 daily uploads of original art works ranging from traditional media, such as painting and sculpture, to digital art, pixel art, films and anime.”
PicassoMio
Is an online clearinghouse of sorts, curating a handpicked collection and offering assistance and guidance to new and seasoned collectors alike.
From their website: “Founded in 1999, PicassoMio is the world’s leading destination to discover curated modern and contemporary art and design. Thousands of art collectors have taken advantage of our hand-picked selections.
As the Internet’s most successful curated original art and design seller, we receive a monthly traffic of 1 Million hits and sales in over 50 countries.”
As I learn more on this new journey, I’ll share what I find. I hope you will, too!
Christa Avampato 