Project: Building an Art Collection

Every home that holds an art collection carries a different kind of vibe – and you register it instantly. Still, few have the courage to take on this not-so-easy task.
The art we choose to live with becomes an intimate reflection of who we are. It connects us – to ourselves and to those we invite into our space. It sparks conversations, but most often, it quietly reveals our sensibility.
The best advice I can give about collecting art is this: follow what stirs emotion in you.
Creating an art collection is a deeply personal process. It’s not something that happens in a day – it grows with you over time. Some works may mark turning points: a birthday, an anniversary, a move. Others will simply call out to your heart and ask not to be left behind.
If you're just starting, here are a few guiding thoughts:
1. 1. Look for originality and limited editions
(As collectors say: “Editioning = Value”)

The golden rule of collecting – regardless of budget – is to seek out work with a defined limit. Limited editions create a sense that what you own is rare and unrepeatable. Whether it’s a photograph, a print, or a painting – works reproduced in hundreds of copies lose their intimate power.
True collectors – from Agnes Gund to Oprah – look for pieces with the artist’s signature or certificate, edition numbering, and clear provenance. My advice: never buy a print that doesn’t offer at least two of these elements.
2. Follow your instinct, not the trend
In the age of algorithms, it’s easy to lose touch with your own taste. Everywhere you see “Top 10 art pieces for your home,” but a true home doesn’t follow a list – it follows feeling. Be honest with yourself: what takes your breath away? What motif feels like a dream you’ve seen before? What would you want to look at on your worst day?
If something doesn’t make sense at first, but stirs a feeling – that’s already a signal. Emotional resonance is the foundation of every great collection. As Dominique Lévy said: “You collect what speaks to you, not what speaks to the market.”

3. Large formats – silence that fills the space
Scale changes everything. In a world flooded with detail, a single large artwork brings in silence. Not silence as emptiness – but silence as presence.
A larger print has the power to define the atmosphere of an entire room. Instead of a collage of small pieces, try investing in one work that carries the whole story. It’s a more sophisticated aesthetic – and one that pays off in the long run.

4. Framing – your final sentence
Framing is not an afterthought – it’s your closing line. Like the last sentence in a novel, it sets the tone for everything you’ve just experienced. A poor frame can diminish even the most powerful piece, while the right one can elevate even the most modest work to a gallery-level presence.

5. Create rhythm through repetition
If you’re just beginning, you might not yet know how to combine multiple pieces into a cohesive wall. Repetition helps. Several smaller works in the same format, arranged in a regular rhythm, create a strong visual impact – like a musical note repeating. You can start with smaller prints and expand them over time into a fuller collection.

6. Ask someone who understands both space and emotion
Most collectors aren’t sure where to begin – and that’s completely fine. Asking for help isn’t a weakness; it’s a sign of clarity. That’s why I offer art placement consultations – because it does matter whether a print goes above the bed, between windows, or as a solo piece in a hallway. Every space has its own breath – and the right artwork won’t overpower it, but echo it.

7. Respect the medium – use the right words
When you change the words you use, you change your relationship with art. A photograph is not a “picture.” It’s a work. A piece. Created in a limited edition, printed with archival pigments on paper designed to last for decades. And yes – photographs aren’t “hung up” like posters. They’re installed, shoulder to shoulder with works found in galleries.

8. Start with what needs no explanation
If you don’t know where to begin – start with pieces that don’t ask for context. Those that you feel before you analyze. Such a work can stay with you for years, even as your style, colors, and moods shift.