Collecting Art The Smart Way – Curating Your Life

When I initially started this series “Collecting Art The Smart Way,” I never imagined I would have so much to say on this subject. And yet, as I write, there is so much more I wish to say about being a collector, loving collecting artists and advising collectors. I now realize how little is known and how much still needs to be discussed.

Curation comes in much faster than you think. You have bought a few artworks and quickly enough they need to live with you in your practical realm: Your home. And yet, these objects are no commodities and require space, appreciation and curation. That’s my favourite part of the job! Because here comes the challenge: Your house is not a museum and yet you wish for these objects to create the same impact they did on you to anyone coming through the door.

Here are the magic clues:

1. Understand the artist to display his/ her works: If you have followed our steps toward purchasing emerging art, you have engaged with the vision of the artist before you have acquired the works while visiting the artists studio. Now, remember how the artist displayed their works because this is a clue to how much space the work requires (empty space that is) and if the work is best on its own or whether requires some company. I have here an example from our artist Alexandra Lethbridge – she sees her works together, in company. She feels that it’s the interaction of colours and textures that creates an impact on the viewer, as if being able to decode their dialogue all together. The wall becomes a creative stage for the artworks to perform in:

2. Understand the work itself: The answer is in the artwork. If the work is figurative and describes a social scene, then the lounge is a better place. If the artwork is more reflective, then the study room is best. The composition and  structure can highlight a specific corner of the room or reinforce the architecture of the house. The more dialogue between the space and the work you create, the stronger the overall look will be.

3. Understand the wider narrative of your house: Yes, it’s only YOU that can answer this. Your home reflects you – the way you dress, speak, write, etc. Do not let someone define this for you, as it is imperative that you work to find your own unique layout. Please: don’t copy the layout of your neighbour! If you collect works and artists that engaged YOU emotionally, then make sure that the way they will engage others will be just as impactful. In my experience I have found that when people look at the works I collect or the way I curate for MTArt, they get a better understanding of me personally. It is like a continuation of your thinking… But visually. Think of it as defining a narrative, and the identity is key. Someone can help you understand it but certainly should not define it for you.

4. Move them around; you evolve and so do they! There are, of course, different views on this part, as it depends on their placement.

Collectors sometimes rediscover their works when seeing them on the walls of a museum. This is something that the CEO of Vastari, Bernadine Brocker, is passionate about. She encourages collectors to lend their works to major museum exhibitions to in order to gain a different perspective of their collection. Certainty is death in the creative world, so be sure to keep challenging the existing placements while evolving them with your perspective grows.

I will conclude on a light note: My first office contained an assortment of works from Jennifer Abessira. I didn’t have the biggest budget but I wanted everything (the chairs, tables etc) to represent her vision. I even went as far as applying a vinyl of her favorite WIFI sign on the wall next to her works. We had so many positive comments when people visited the office and it felt like working in a creative bubble:

An advocate for artists since a young age, Marine managed her first gallery at age 21, opened her first art gallery in Los Angeles at age 23 and finally created her current business, MTArt, to promote the artists she believed in across the globe. MTArt is the first artist agency promoting influential visual artists and specialising in talent management: building, growing and accelerating their careers.Marine is a thought leader, writer and frequent speaker on contemporary art.