On Museum Trustee’s Private Collections: Leah Harmuth Excerpt from Master’s Thesis

On Museum Trustee’s Private Collections: Leah Harmuth Excerpt from Master’s Thesis

Chai Modern: Non-profit Focused on Supporting Emerging Artists Globally

Chai Modern: Non-profit Focused on Supporting Emerging Artists Globally

Leah Harmuth: How to Start a Fine Art Collection

Jeff Koons' Sculputure

Museum Trustees’ Legacies: Historical and Contemporary Perspectives

Museum Trustees’ Legacies: Historical and Contemporary Perspectives

Infographic: How to Start and Art Collection

Leah Harmuth: Tips for Fine Art Collecting

How to Start a Contemporary Fine Art Collection

"When you start a fine art collection," says Leah Harmuth, "its best to come up with a theme or find something of particular interest to you— it does not have to be overly philosophical or deep.  Leah says that to identify a general unifying concept, such as a color, style or abstraction, that somehow matches feel of a room.

John Baldessari, Two Sunsets (One with Square Blue Moon), 1994, 10-color screenprint 48″ x 32″ edition of 49. This tranquil and romantic work is featured in my bedroom.

Start Collecting Slowly

Initially, begin collecting with one piece and build around it. You don’t need--or probably shouldn’t--want to buy everything all at once.  A well-curated art collection that reflects your taste level takes time and patience, and could be a balance between new emerging artists and more established ones as well as a range of types of works such as painting, photography, works on paper or sculpture.  However, once you begin identifying artists and galleries that appeal to you, buying art becomes addictive, and could be a life-long passion. 

Feel the Work; Display How Your Want

The way you choose a group of art changes the feeling it evokes.  Seek inspiration on how to arrange your collection by reviewing vintage coffee table books, magazines and blogs.   Some of my personal favorites are Lonny and Table+Teaspoon.  Also seek inspiration by visiting established collectors’ homes to see how they approach collecting and hanging their work.

Don’t be afraid of bold art in small spaces– I love my salon-style hanging.

Dont Be Put Off by Galleries

Gallerists can sometimes seem intimidating, off-putting or downright un-polite.   No matter--feel free to ask questions and don’t worry about an “incorrect” interpretation of a work since all part of the dialogue and experience.

Collecting contemporary fine art is extremely personal, as cliché as it sounds, so buy only what you love and experiment with placement.

–Leah Harmuth