7 tips for collecting art

With the belief that art is meant to be lived with and that collecting art should be enjoyable, a group exhibition titled Mostly is now open at projects+gallery, featuring covetable work by a variety of dynamic artists from the St. Louis region and the projects+gallery inventory. The art world can be an intimidating place, but with a little guidance, it can be accessible and exciting. Below, you will find a few tips on collecting from the team at projects+gallery.

1. Go see art. There are countless venues and opportunities that will provide engaging art experiences. Museums and commercial art galleries are tried and true, but you can also explore public parks, universities, and other public institutions to find examples of artwork throughout your city. Prefer to stay in? Social media platforms such as Instagram have become hubs for contemporary art, providing the opportunity to browse vast selections of both up-and-coming and established artists and to follow your favorite galleries (such as @projectsplusgallery).

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Photography by Virginia Harold

2. Learn what you like. There are lots of reasons that people buy art, from aesthetic enjoyment to financial investment. Doing a little research is a great way to learn more about your aesthetic preferences and the art market. Intentional collecting that aligns with your values can also help guide you. If you are hoping to support a marginalized community or champion a certain social interest, keep that in mind when seeking out artists to collect. For example, projects+gallery owner Susan Barrett shares how she was inspired to collect women artists: “I was struck by a statement that artist Marilyn Minter made that the market and museums will change when women (and minorities) start collecting. To me, it meant that if we want to see more art by women in museums, we need to actually buy art by women. This was a call to action for me, and I take that responsibility seriously and want to actively contribute to that market.”

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Jamieson Design Associates; Photography by Suzy Gorman

3. Reach out to an art advisor. Reaching out to an art advisor provides added support when navigating the art world. For Bridget Melloy, senior director of projects+gallery, "Working with clients to find the right piece for their home is always exciting. Whether it's working with a client buying their first piece or a seasoned collector, we tailor our approach to find a piece that the client will love and fit in their sensibilities, budget, and investment strategy."

4. Seek out what inspires you. It's time to look at the art—really look at it. After all, the purpose of art is to make us feel something and spark conversation or curiosity. The team at projects+gallery never shies away from inviting clients into its back room to pull a range of work and to gather feedback. Set your parameters, be vocal about your preferences, and projects+gallery will go from there. The gallery's team loves talking about art, even if it’s to challenge perceptions around it. When it comes to finding the right piece or artists to follow, if projects+gallery doesn’t have it in the available inventory, the gallery will work to source it and make recommendations for your own research.

5. Imagine living with the artwork. Does it fit in your home, your art collection, your lifestyle? Think of how you would display it when you take it home, and if you’re unsure, let your art advisor make recommendations. Galleries will bring artworks to you and allow you to live with it for a day or two to consider the acquisition and hanging location. Art is meant to be lived with, and the piece should be incorporated into and complement your lifestyle.

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Jacob Laws Interior Design

6. Be vocal about your budget. Art that you love can be found at a range of price points. Just as setting your aesthetic and conceptual preferences are important to collecting artwork, so is being clear about your budget. There is nothing wrong with being candid about the financial aspects of collecting. Gallerists are there to help advise on market values and help find the right work(s) at the right rate(s).

7. Remember the only unbreakable rule in collecting art: There are no rules, but there are smart acquisitions.

To continue the conversation, reach out to Bridget Melloy at bridget@projects-gallery.com or visit projects-gallery.com.

This post was created by SLM Partner Studio on behalf of projects+gallery. Visit projects-gallery.com to learn more.