How to Start an Art Collection, According to a Gallerist

Bau-Xi Gallery director Riko Nakasone shares the inside scoop on starting your own art collection… even if you’re living in a 400-square-foot Olympic Village rental.

Vanmag: Where does a beginner art  collector start?

Riko Nakasone: Visit your local galleries and discover artists or imagery that resonates with you. Explore art online to further hone your tastes and calibrate your eye. Reading some art history in the area of your interest will provide additional knowledge and context.

Then, once you develop a sense of what works and what you are drawn to, you can begin to focus on specific artists or perhaps a specific genre (abstract, landscape) or a specific medium (oil painting, photography).

It’s also a good idea to subscribe to the email lists of your favourite galleries and artists and follow them on social media… you’ll get advance notices of upcoming exhibitions, artist receptions and new arrivals, along with a peek into the process of creating a body of work or the motivation behind it, and you’ll gain a better understanding of the artist.

VM: What if you’re on a tight budget?

RN: Search out talented emerging artists who are at the beginning of their careers and therefore have a lower price point. Original works on paper, limited-edition prints and photographs can often be less expensive than oil or acrylic paintings on canvas.

The scale of a work also plays a factor in the price, and you can begin by acquiring a small work by an artist that you admire if you can’t yet afford a larger work.

And, a last resort: if a desired work lies just beyond your budget, inquire if payments in instalments are possible.

VM: What are some common mistakes that new collectors make?

RN: One is being a little too cautious with scale and acquiring artwork that is too small or not proportionate for the intended space. Or hanging work too high—a general rule of thumb is that the centre of the artwork is hung at eye level. In the gallery, we use 56 inches from the floor to the centre of the artwork as a general guideline.

VM: What should new collectors look for when choosing their first pieces of art?

RN: If you acquire art that you love, it will reflect who you are and create an  interesting and more cohesive collection.

Check out visual arts events this fall here.