First Edition: Falling for Art
Summer Newsletter
The silver lining at the end of summer is that there is bound to be some amazing art on view in your city to kick off the fall — as collectors and gallery staff return from summer holidays, the art season kicks off with a bang. 💥
Exploring the various exhibition previews I can’t help but think about the art buying journey… what ignites that fire and how does one build enough conviction to get to the purchase moment?
I get questions about what steps are involved in making the decision regularly, which we also recently discussed at length, Peggy. So, I figured there might be additional inquiring minds out there curious about the very non-linear, milestones from art discovery to acquisition.
🌊 Deep Dive: From Discovery to Living with Art
There is no straight path to discovering art and eventually living with it, but there are some indicators along the way that may help build confidence.
I say this regularly, in consulting conversations and these newsletter issues, but you must start by simply looking. What is drawing you in? What is making you feel something? Trust those signals, and the more you see, the more confident you will be in recognizing gut feelings.
From there, you’ll likely want to follow the artist of pieces that catch your eye — on Instagram, browse their Google results and auction presence, or follow them on art platforms like Peggy (😉) to stay in the loop about what they are making and how their style is evolving. This can be both as they grow in their career, but also in terms of how their artworks have developed and changed up to this point.
Stick with me here, but it is super helpful to read a bit. Specifically, read about the artist’s practice — does their artist statement make you feel more or less connected? More in love or ready to move on? I find getting that little bit of context, the who and why, helps deepen a feeling I had based on aesthetics alone.
Finally, check out the artist’s CV. If your logical, data-oriented brain (for those who cannot help but be practical) wants more proof that purchasing is a good idea, look for some signs. Do they show at galleries around the world? What about museums? Are they exhibiting regularly? All great signs!
If the above process seems daunting and you are dying to know the fastest way to know you need/want/love something, FOMO will be your friend. There is nothing that builds conviction in a purchase, than missing out on a piece you were thinking about. Urgency is a pretty critical tool for selling art, which is why auctions and limited releases can be so tried and true, effective. While it is annoying, there isn’t a collector journey out there that doesn’t have at least a few “one that got away” stories — but to be honest, the short-term pain is usually worth it for building conviction!
A final tip, if the above seems overwhelming, look beyond original works to some slightly more affordable mediums to test the water. Many collector journies start with editioned prints by better-known, in-demand artists. (Just be sure they are numbered and signed.) Not only are the price points more attractive but it is always exciting to be able to support an artist you recognize or follow with a gentler pricetag.
Once you catch the edition purchasing bug, I typically see collectors build further conviction to visit art fairs, play around at day sale auctions and pursue smaller-scale original works. However, at the end of the day, there are exceptions to every rule and route — and living with art is truly the best thing ever. I highly suggest trying it out at whatever entry point you see fit.
🔥 Trending
Scandalous art advisors — big legal news a high-profile art advisor, Lisa Schiff, is in hot water and accused of essentially running a Ponzi scheme with her clients.
Climate activists continue to use artworks as key targets for demonstration. Most recently, at The National Gallery of Canada.
💸 Advisory Picks
September is the best month to see art in New York — highly recommend attending one of the fairs (Photofairs is new and looks great) or some good old-fashioned gallery shows
Some highlights 👀
Keiran Brennan Hinton, Morning Coffee, 2023 Keiran Brennan Hinton’s “A Break in the Clouds” opens September 8th at Charles Moffett. I was lucky enough to get a little preview of the works and it is a must-see.
Njideka Akunyili Crosby’s show at David Zwirner will likely be worth the wait since she joined the gallery in 2018— her painstaking interiors are chock-full of immersive detail.
NADA House on Governors Island is a great excuse to visit a piece of NYC you likely haven’t, while 26 galleries have installed art in a homey setting.
Philip Martin’s booth at the Armory has also caught my eye…
Fall in Toronto is also pretty great — the end of September brings Gallery Weekend Toronto filled with walking paths and great exhibitions, followed by Art Toronto taking place at the end of October accompanied by lots of pop-ups across the city. Let me know if you are keen on a tour of either!
Europe will also be hosting a busy art-filled fall with major fairs, Paris + and Frieze taking place in Paris and London, respectively, in October.
Finally, if you want to explore art from the comfort of your home — feel free to check out my current favorites on Peggy this month!
👋 Parting Words…
Need more on the above? Want an extra gut check on an artwork you like? Or trying to figure out where to even begin, let me know! Looking at and talking about art is always my favorite thing to do.
Until next time…
XX, B
The journey to build conviction to buy resonates. Love this update! 😊
Love it Bron!