Their Walls: Tatum Dooley
The first instalment of series of Q&As with some ultra-cool art collectors, on what they live with, love, and why they buy.
I’m thrilled to kick off a new series of quick-fire interviews with art collectors — because let’s be honest, who isn’t a little curious about what other people have on their walls?
Who better to start with than my great friend and sharp, brilliant writer
, who also runs the excellent Art Forecast newsletter. She and her husband, painter Keiran Brennan Hinton, live in an apartment filled with work by friends, peers, and artists they admire. It’s the kind of space where you’re handed a drink the moment you arrive and immediately start asking about everything on the walls.Read on for five quick takes on Tatum’s personal collection, from her first impulse buy to what she’s framed most recently.
If we were chatting at a dinner party, how would you describe what you do?
I never know how to answer this question because I wear so many art-related hats. The easy answer is: I'm an art writer who helps artists and galleries with PR and communications.
How long have you been interested in art?
I have vivid memories of going to the AGO when I was 7 years old and sitting on the floor to sketch the Henry Moore sculptures and Lawren Harris paintings. I never realized that working in art was a feasible career trajectory until I was much older. I started writing about art in my early twenties and have never looked back (except for the short stint in fashion writing at Teen Vogue).
What was the first piece of art you bought, and what about it made you want to live with it?
The first piece I bought was a Ness Lee from a small gallery on Queen St. East. I saw the work and immediately loved it. I went home and began to panic that someone else would buy it before me—I'm sure you know the feeling. I went back the next day and paid for it in cash. Full disclosure: I did sell it a few years later when I realized it didn't fit with the direction my collection was heading. But it served as a very valuable lesson: you should feel a hard pull towards the art you collect!
What was the last artwork you purchased, and what drew you to it?
I've definitely slowed down in recent years. We simply don't have enough wall space, so my husband and I have become very mindful of what we bring home. The last thing we had framed was a small Matt Kleberg drawing that we picked up last month. We also received quite a few new artworks as wedding gifts, which I feel very lucky about.
Bonus: If your collection were a cocktail or beverage, what would it be?
Probably a Caesar—most of my collection is Canadian artists, a bit savoury, with lots of little accompaniments throughout, like sketches, small sculptures, and ephemera filed away.
To learn more about her collection, take a look at her recent write-up.
A big thanks to Tatum for letting us into her world and the way she thinks about living with art. It’s always fascinating to hear how collectors choose the pieces that become part of their everyday lives. For Tatum, each work feels like a chapter in her story, and Tatum’s story shows that following your instincts is always the right choice, even if your tastes evolve over time.
Until next time…
xx Bronwyn
Further reading…
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