The art world might not seem like an easy place to find a way into. For hopeful collectors, it could present a multitude of obstacles; where to start buying, how to pick the right artwork to buy, how to negotiate a deal and many more. But collecting can be very rewarding, and for many collectors it is a work of passion; to look for the newest and the very best, and the exciting chase that comes with going after an artwork that they’ve had their eye on.
If you’ve been looking for the opportunity to enter into the world of collecting, we have some advice from Ellie Rines, who is the owner of 56 Henry, an art gallery in New York’s Chinatown. 56 Henry, through the vision of Ellie Rines, has managed to showcase emerging artists who become art world favorites. In her course, Where to Start Looking for Talent for Collecteurs Academy, Rines outlines how to spot the perfect starting point for your collection, and also offers some insider information for collectors to improve their relationship with galleries.
Here are some of Ellie Rines’ tips for budding collectors, who want to start building a collection with intent and with a smaller budget.
Oftentimes, new collectors will chase after bigger names in the art world to start their collection; but these works might be out of their reach due to budget restrictions. Instead of looking for more ambitious purchases, Rines recommends starting out by buying works from emerging artists. Rines says, by buying artworks from emerging artists, you can encourage the artists to continue their studio practice:
Buying works from emerging artists will help them advance their practice, to be able to afford their studio rent–especially in places like New York City, Rines points out–and watch their career as they develop into artists that create an impact in the contemporary art scene.
But how do you reach out to these artists that are lesser known by the art world at large? Rines offers more advice on how to stay in the loop for finding out where the talent is.
If you are not an active participant in the art world, you might feel limited in your means to discover new, talented artists. For this, Rines suggests doing some research online. She suggests Instagram can now be a good tool for collectors to discover new artists, as well as for looking into a gallery’s roster and latest exhibitions. The more artists and galleries you follow, the more likely that you will run into an artwork or artist that sparks your interest. Rines also suggests doing a Youtube search for an artist you’re interested in, to be able to listen to them talk about their work firsthand, or just to get an impression of how they approach their work.
Yet only online interaction won’t cut it. If you are able to, it’s important to be present for gallery openings, art fairs—or even visiting other collections can provide some insight for your future collection. It is through these events you can build connections, come across works that spark your interest, and have an idea on the latest trends in the art world in general. Rines suggests looking into fairs that represent emerging artists; like TEFAF or NADA, which have a committee reviewing artists’ work. For an easy way to get started with art fairs, Rines recommends finding an art fair that’s closer to your hometown and trying to see as much as you can.
Forming a community of collectors can also help you with making up your mind. Rines points out that collectors have a network to reach out to one another on advice, whether it is online through message threads or in one-on-one interactions through art events.
And finally, Rines suggests following certain MFA programs for emerging artists and looking into the artists’ CVs to see more about their practice, and possibly meeting them through studio visits, but more on that later…
After you have done some research and found artists you are interested in, you can learn more about their practice with a studio visit. These can be facilitated by the gallery the artist represents or through communication with the artist themselves. An etiquette tip: Rines says it’s more courteous to ask the gallery first to contact an artist, since the artists would like to focus more on their work and let the gallery handle these interactions.
In the studio visits, Rines recommends looking at the artists’ past work, and how involved in their practice they are:
Galleries are equally important in figuring out which artworks you would like to purchase; and having a good relationship with galleries can help a collector find deals, be prioritized in waitlists and keep up with the newest emerging artists. Rines points out that if you have a good relationship with the artist or the gallery, you can even ask them to send a video of the artwork you’re interested in directly to you, so you get a better idea of the texture and the look of the artwork, which is helpful if you can’t be there in person to view the artwork.
A good way to start off your collection on a budget, as Rines suggests, is looking through some benefit auctions. These auctions are organized for a cause, and they can provide an introduction to great artworks at a cheaper price. If it is not in your budget to purchase an artwork from an artist’s solo show, you can find a work that they’ve included in the benefit auction that they participate in. Rines recommends looking into White Columns, or the Coalition for the Homeless to review their portfolio and find some artworks that you love.
Collecting can provide a lot of fulfillment when it is also done for the benefit of the community, and benefit auctions provide the opportunity to support a cause, while building your collection at a more affordable pace.
Finally, now that you have gathered all the information you need, Rines suggests that the most important thing is to buy something that you love. You might be worried about the investment aspect of buying art; whether or not it will increase or decrease in value, but what’s more rewarding is that if you buy something that you love, you will be living with something that you cherish:
All in all, the experience of buying art can boil down to whether or not you’re feeling connected to a certain artwork. Trends may come and go, but if you feel like you’ve made the right choice, you will feel content with what you have acquired. Happy hunting!
To get more insider tips on Where to Start Looking for Talent, enroll in Ellie Rines’ course, available on Collecteurs Academy Library Access. Watch anytime at your own schedule.