Peggy Guggenheim and Jackson Pollock in front of Mural, 1943, first floor entrance hall, 155 East 61st Street, New York, c. 1946 (Photo: George Karger © 2013 Pollock-Krasner Foundation / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York)
“The collector is an artist in his own way, by the way he puts things together. You can read a person’s soul from their collection.”
-Ayers Tarantino, Art and Antiques
Why collect? Collecting art is more than just buying pretty objects. As an art collector, you are an arts supporter, a part of art history, and are able to tell a story through unique acquisitions that reflect your tastes, ideas, and experiences. Whether you follow a single artist’s career, a specific genre, or have an eclectic range of work, art collecting is not something seasoned buyers of the art world take lightly. The pieces you acquire reflect your personality and distinguish your style. Collecting art becomes more than a hobby of buying beautiful things – it becomes a treasure hunt, a philosophical pursuit, an unyielding passion.
“I collect these objects to learn from them. In some moment these things are going to teach me something. For me, this is like a library. These are my books.”
-Joes Bedia in ARTNews
As an art collector, not only are you culturally fulfilling your own world, you are making a difference in the life of an artist by becoming an instrumental part of their career. Throughout history, collectors have shaped the art world in subtle and overt ways. Modern art collector Peggy Guggenheim was influential in the career of early American expressionists Jackson Pollock, Mark Rothko, and Robert Motherwell as the first to publicly exhibit their work in her gallery. Gertrude Stein’s early support of Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse through passionate acquisition and advocacy led them to become household names and arguably the most famous artists of the 20th century. Van Gogh, with no one to appreciate his swirling brushstrokes and vivid color, lived a life unknown; it wasn’t until the last year of his life and after his death that his work received the fame it deserved after finding it’s way into public and private collections.
“You can either buy clothes, or buy pictures.”
Gertrude Stein
Today, collecting art is seen by some as a luxury, others as a necessity. During times of economic downturn, the art market saw an all-time low, however, 2014 topped the charts as the highest year in history for art sales (read the article here). This is in part due to new trends in the art world such as fairs, as well as Internet sales through sites such as Artsy and Artnet, that are broadening public engagement and attracting younger buyers. The top three art markets in the country remain as New York, Los Angeles, and our home city of Santa Fe. With 200 galleries in two square miles, Santa Fe is the most concentrated market – and the most historic. At over 400 years old, Canyon Road boasts over 100 galleries in its half-mile stretch. At Pippin Contemporary, we welcome tourists, art collectors, and art enthusiasts at the base of this iconic street.
“Santa Fe’s unique art scene can be compared to the cultural experience of an art fair, but with year-round accessibility. The density of diverse and high quality art in Santa Fe is unlike any other in the country, maybe even the world.”
-Aleta Pippin, Gallery Owner
Collectors continue to be highly influential in the always-changing art world. In Santa Fe, you as the collector keep galleries in business and contribute to the family-like feel of our close-knit art community. You give artists the opportunity to thrive through a creative career as they share their inner emotions and expressions through their work, and in turn create a portal where you see your own spiritual sentiments reflected.
“We collectors know that art communicates with us on different levels. Language and culture are no barriers.”
-Barbara Trapp, Art and Antiques
This blog is part of our new Contemporary Collector Series. See it featured on the Santa Fe Gallery Association website.