How to Start an Art Collection: A Guide for New Collectors

Starting an art collection is an exciting journey that allows you to express your personal tastes, connect with artists, and bring beauty into your everyday life. Whether you're interested in acquiring a few pieces for your home or eventually building a significant collection, the process is all about discovering what resonates with you. Here’s a guide to help you get started and develop a collection that reflects who you are.

Begin with What You Love

The most important rule of collecting art is simple: collect what you love. Art is a deeply personal experience, and the pieces you choose should speak to you on an emotional level. Whether it’s a painting that reminds you of a place you've visited, a sculpture that reflects your values, or a photograph that captures a moment in time, art that has special meaning for you will only serve to deepen your relationship with your collection. Remember, at the end of the day, you are the one will will live with your art collection day in and day out, so live with what you love.

Eclectic vs. Specialized Collections

As you start your collection, you might wonder whether to focus on a specific style or genre or to embrace a more eclectic approach. Both options offer unique advantages and come with their own set of challenges.

An eclectic collection allows you to explore a wide range of styles, mediums, and artists, giving you the freedom to experiment with different forms of expression. This diversity can be a true reflection of your varied interests and experiences, making your collection a vibrant and personal expression of who you are. However, the downside to an eclectic collection is that it can sometimes feel disjointed, lacking a clear narrative or focus, which can make it harder to create a unified display in your home. Additionally, if you’re considering the investment aspect, an eclectic collection might be harder to appraise and sell, as it doesn’t cater to a specific market.

On the other hand, a specialized collection, whether focused on a particular style, artist, or era, can create a strong, cohesive narrative. This focused approach can make it easier to display your collection in a way that tells a compelling story. Focusing on one area also allows you to become an expert in that niche, developing a deep understanding of the artists, techniques, and history related to your collection. Furthermore, specializing can sometimes increase the investment value of your collection, as it may appeal to specific collectors and markets. However, a specialized collection can limit your ability to explore other types of art that might also resonate with you, and you might find yourself passing on beautiful pieces that don’t fit into your collection’s theme, even if you love them. Another side effect of specialized art collections is our natural tendency to judge and rank objects that share similar characteristics. This can lead to a collector mentally ranking pieces into their collection, selecting what they feel to be their "best" pieces and ignoring the rest.

Reflecting Your Personal Style and Values

A good art collection should be a mirror of who you are. When choosing pieces, think about how they align with your personal style, experiences, and values. For example, you might be drawn to art that celebrates your cultural heritage, reminds you of significant life events, or reflects your passion for social justice. This personal connection not only makes the art more meaningful but also ensures that your collection feels authentic to you.

Don't be afraid to take a chance

While your art collection is an extension of yourself, don't be afraid to challenge yourself at the same time. Some time you may find yourself looking at two different pieces of art to purchase for a specific space, one safe and one more challenging. The "safe" piece may be something that makes you feel more relaxed, have softer colors, or is has a more easy to understand theme, whereas the "challenging" art may be bolder, or have a more complex backstory behind it. 

You may be more inclined to go with the safe choice, the choice that won't rock any boats, so to speak. That is a viable option that can provide a certain amount of comfort for some people.

However, here is something for you to consider. Oftentimes, safe artwork can become so unassuming that it soon disappears into the background. Artwork that challenges a collector not only stands out, but also provides opportunity to grow into a more engaging relationship over time. 

If you are attracted to a complex or visually demanding piece, don't be afraid to give it a chance even if it doesn't match your sofa.

Building Relationships with Artists and Galleries

As you start collecting, take the time to connect with artists and galleries. Attend gallery openings, art fairs, and studio visits. Open Studio weekends through Louisville Visual Art is a great opportunity for studio visits. Opening receptions at WheelHouse Art is a great time to learn more about artists with our artist talk interviews and provides an opportunity to meet with artists in person. Check out our Exhibition Calendar to see what shows are opening up next, or join our email list to keep up with what's happening at WheelHouse Art.

Building relationships with artists and galleries can deepen your understanding of the art and provide you with insights into the creative process. Plus, supporting artists directly is a wonderful way to contribute to the art community.

Considering Investment Value

While collecting for investment can be a consideration, it’s generally more of a concern for blue-chip art collectors than for those just starting out. Art markets can be unpredictable, and what’s valuable today might not be tomorrow. This is particularly true with regionally-renowned artists compared to nationally or internationally successful artists. If you’re drawn to a piece because you believe it has investment potential, that’s great—but it shouldn’t be the sole reason you buy it. The most important thing is that you genuinely love the art you’re adding to your collection. Over time, your collection might appreciate in value, but the joy it brings you is the true reward.

Mass-Produced Artwork

A new client asked us recently what we thought about homes filled with mass-produced art and objects. Rather than expressing an expected disapproval, we assured them that can be a valuable part of discovery for those new to collecting art. Hanging items purchased at big-box stores and the like allow collectors to "try out" different styles, color palettes, and genres of imagery. After a while, you can begin to see patterns that point out what you may subconsciously be attracted to. Art collections aren't an inexpensive hobby, and they don't happen overnight. These pieces can serve as placeholder until you find the perfect piece of original artwork to fill specific spaces. 

Conclusion

Starting an art collection is a deeply personal journey that allows you to explore your tastes, values, and connections to the world around you. Whether you choose to build an eclectic collection that showcases your diverse interests or a specialized collection with a focused theme, the key is to collect what resonates with you. By prioritizing art that you love, you’ll create a collection that not only reflects who you are but also brings lasting joy and inspiration into your life.

So where do you begin? Right here with WheelHouse Art. If you don't know what artwork you like yet, spend two minutes taking our What Is Your Art Match? quiz that will start you off with personalized recommendations.

We have artwork by over fifty artists in inventory that you can easily search by artist, genre, size, and price. If you don't find what you're looking for, we have connections to even more artists and can help you locate what you need. Browse online, stop by the gallery to look at work in person, or we can even bring a collection of pieces for you to view in your home.