The Radical Act of Art Collecting

It’s probably no surprise to anyone that we are currently experiencing a Loneliness Epidemic. Covid-19, remote work environments, longer working hours, social media, AI, invasive technology… The list of things to blame for our growing feelings of isolation goes on. In today’s world, it feels like the opportunities to connect with others and express ourselves are shrinking.

Another cause for concern that goes hand-in-hand with the loneliness epidemic is the depreciating societal value of the Humanities: literacy rates are hitting all-time lows, already underfunded Humanities programs are the first to go when colleges cut spending, and it’s becoming increasingly difficult to identify AI generated art and writing. 

The purpose of the Humanities, of art and language and philosophy, have always been to better understand the human experience. By studying thought, experience, and history we feel more closely connected to what it means to be human and grow more empathetic towards people living different lives than ours.

Humans need community. Thanks to today’s advancements in health, science, and technology, we no longer rely on deep bonds to survive. Once upon a time, when we were all living in caves, we needed to care about and trust one another to survive. If you suddenly became ill and weak, you needed to know that someone in your pack would bring you food and keep you safe until you were better. Nowadays, a fever is much less likely to kill you, and you can get food and medicine delivered to your doorstep without leaving your house.

Although we have more comfortable lives now, we have sacrificed a lot for the sake of safety and convenience. One of those things is the investment in community and putting in the effort to understand and connect with one another.

Along with each other, we aren’t as strongly connected to our natural world as we once were. As a species, we spend more time indoors than ever before, we live in concrete cities that are rarely accessible without a car or bus, and we continue to chip away at our fragile environment with pollution and plastic. Yes, we have the comforts of air conditioning and indoor plumbing, and I’m certainly not wishing away these things. But I do think we have lost a valuable appreciation for our Earth by creating an artificial environment to replace Her.

I think these realizations and their impact is what led me to my love of art. Art has existed since the dawn of mankind and has, throughout history, reflected such a vast spectrum of human experience it’s almost incomprehensible how many individual thoughts and feelings are preserved in millions of statuettes and frescos and panel paintings. Even the act of purchasing and commissioning art holds its own massive history. Learning provenance and the people who connected with specific artists, styles, and subjects is in and of itself a rewarding endeavor. Personally, I have a particularly strong connection to Impressionism and the way these French artists in the late 1800s reflected so beautifully the connection between human beings, their changing environments, and the ephemerality of nature.

If you can’t yet tell, I’m also a bit sentimental. I find inspiration in almost everything, rarely clear out my camera roll, and have been known to hoard more keepsakes than most. It was only natural that I enjoy creating art as much as I do consuming it. And, it makes perfect sense that the art I make is at its core, an attempt to inspire connection and conversation and remind us of the beauty in life, each other, and the world around us.

So enough about me and the state of our society– where do you fit in, as an Art Collector? First of all, I want to start by clarifying the definition of Art Collector. You don’t have to be a millionaire with an offshore bank account and proxy bidders to be an Art Collector. Not every Art Collector is dropping millions of dollars at Christie’s for a first edition Warhol– in fact, most aren’t. An Art Collector, most commonly and simply, is someone who accumulates, over time, the art they like. Whether it’s picking up a print at a local farmer’s market or ordering a custom from their favorite Instagram Artist, every art purchase adds to the collection. The collection’s value doesn’t come from a dollar amount, but instead in the way the collection represents the collector’s inspiration and interests. Even your abstract floral HomeGoods canvas print counts as part of your collection (though I think you can do better than that!).

The closer you get to finding unique art that speaks deeply to your soul, the more satisfying your collection will become. Opening yourself up to interpreting art can be difficult at first, but the more you observe and understand why you feel connected to certain pieces, the more you will learn about yourself and how you perceive the world. And, by displaying your collection in your home and making the pieces you love a conversation starter, the more you will get to know your friends and house guests on a deeper level– and the more they will get to know you. It’s also very likely your Art Collection will outlive you. Having a thumbprint of your values and lifelong inspirations to pass down for generations is a one-of-a-kind legacy to leave.

Learning how to articulate why you connect with a piece of art can take time, but the connection of those conversations will bring you closer to others and yourself. I don’t believe anyone can truthfully say, “I don’t understand art”. You do; you just haven’t had the patience to try.

To bring everything together, I will leave you with this: collecting art is a radical act because, in this lonely world of today, you are embracing your individuality and sharing it with others. Not everyone will connect with the art you collect in the way you do, and that’s okay. How cool is it that we all have our own preferences and interests? And what a great opportunity to embrace our differences and learn more about each other!

I hope you feel inspired to invest more time into building your art collection, observing art, and conversing about art. Despite the loneliness we’re currently experiencing, humans are wired to crave community and expression. I am confident that there will always be Artists and Art Collectors to forge deeper connections with each other and the world around us.