As you begin to pick up steam and transform into a prolific contemporary art collector, market aficionados will start to take notice and try to influence your collecting habits. Quickly, you’ll notice that folks developing an art collection of their own will highlight auction prices and sales data as reassurances that certain emerging artists will improve the overall whole. Or, they’ll point out that an artist signing with a major gallery will surely bring added value to a collection. These approaches are not uncommon, and they often help collectors feel confident as they identify their next major investment.
But if you’re thinking about investing in emerging artists, whether they’re being shown at major galleries or fairs isn’t the only criteria you should be looking at. Feeling a deep connection to the actual work may not have a dedicated column on a spreadsheet, but it’s just as important. And if you’re unable to connect with the artist’s practice and ethos, their work is likely not appropriate for your collection.
For collectors at every level, there’s a set of criteria to consider before investing in an emerging artist’s work, and you should always honor your own aesthetic, priorities, and values. Let’s keep this in mind as we explore the various aspects of art collecting and establish what should be at the forefront as you begin collecting work from emerging artists.
Follow the evolution of your favorite emerging artists
The most important trait emerging artists can embody is the ability to adapt to new information, and this, coupled with a singular stylistic approach, gives tremendous insight into how seriously they take their own career.
One way to analyze a creative’s career path is to understand how their work has evolved until this point. If you’re looking at a website or, better yet, visiting an emerging artist’s studio, ask to see work that is a few years old and compare it against their current pieces. There should be a clear growth and improvement in their practice, and perhaps more importantly, they should be able to confidently engage this new direction. Do you like what you see, but don’t sense a lot of change or growth? They may still be maturing, and you may prefer to revisit their work in a few years.
When you see evidence of growth punctuated by a stylistic continuity, it’s a clear indication of confidence and maturity, which are reliable indicators that an artist will be able to distinguish themselves. If you encounter emerging artists that fit these criteria, they’re definitely worth a closer look.
“Saturday Street”, by Kate Hooray Osmond. Available through Readymade.
Look at their education history
Are they a recent MFA graduate or currently enrolled in an MFA program? Have they attended prestigious educational residencies? Emerging artists aren’t always seeking out MFA degrees, but such a path can be helpful when you’re trying to narrow down your shortlist.
Pursuing an MFA can indicate a commitment to improving one’s practice, and the experience provides exposure to critical viewpoints that will guide an artist through their creative journey. Emerging artists who engage critically with their work are more likely to be considered for coveted awards and opportunities, which then further opens up their practice.
For the collector, however, examining one’s pedigree helps you track steady signs of improvement alongside evidence that others have noticed their work. Simply put, emerging artists who have been awarded multiple prestigious awards and residencies will be taken more seriously and enter the game at a higher level. Look for artists whose awards originate from more than one organization, as it’s a clear indication that their success is based on the strength of their work, and not their ability to network.
Focus on your favorites
While it’s always great to learn from friends and colleagues about which emerging artists they’re eyeing for their own collections, this is also a time to take matters into your own hands. Social media is an incredible tool which connects you to your favorite creatives and gives you a peek into the studio.
Search for emerging artists that interest you and take a look at who they’re following, as well: we guarantee that you’ll come across another creative that resonates. Stay engaged by following them on the platform, sign up for newsletters, set up Google alerts, and stay up to date with any upcoming exhibitions that they’re participating in.
Once you feel you’ve gained a solid sense of their practice, attend an opening and ask the gallerist for an introduction (don’t be shy—you’re precisely why they’re here). Artists will be flattered and appreciative that you’ve followed their work for a while, and they’ll also be happy to answer any questions you might have.
If you’re serious about collecting, you might suggest exchanging business cards and setting up a more formal meeting. The contemporary art world is, of course, a marketplace, but it’s also a business that’s tied very closely to personal relationships. Having access to emerging artists’ studios, meeting in person, and witnessing the process by which they create and conceptualize is founded on interpersonal connections, good faith, and goodwill. Do you want to be smart about how you approach your collection? Savvy collectors get to know artists before investing in them, and it’s par for the course to schedule a few meetings to discuss and view their work before making an investment.
“Dancing with the Clouds”, by Tamea Agle. Available through Readymade.
Give emerging artists time to grow
Certainly there will be some creatives that set you alight, drawing you in like a moth to the flame and making you eager to add them to your collection right away. But others? They might take a little time.
But that doesn’t mean that it’s necessarily time to move on! Give them an opportunity to continue growing, and in the meantime, stay engaged on social media, give positive feedback when they experience milestones and successes, and demonstrate that you’re taking note of what they’ve been working on—that means revisiting their online portfolio and reviewing any recent additions.
Are you meeting in person? Listen carefully to who and what they draw inspiration from, and be sure to ask about other emerging artists whose work they admire or feel inspired by. Quite quickly, you’ll find yourself engaging in a community of makers and supporters who are happy to see hard working, emerging artists succeed. Finding one artist to add to your collection typically means you’ve infiltrated a new network of creatives, often working in similar veins. And as a collector, you have the immense privilege of having access to their inner world—an incredible opportunity which should never be taken lightly.
Trust your gut
As the old saying goes, “You can’t please everybody,” and not everyone will love the art you purchase or appreciate the emerging artists that you support. So how can you create a collection and maintain a sense of confidence?
It might be helpful to structure it around a specific theme, as this can encourage you to engage with the work more deeply and slowly become an expert in your own right. By maintaining a sense of integrity and authenticity, you’ll demonstrate respect for the artists you support, which will gain you the reputation of being a responsible and thoughtful collector in the community. And as artists’ profiles begin to rise and dealers become more selective about who is allowed to acquire certain pieces, you’ll be remembered as an early trendsetter and responsible steward of their work.
Emerging artists are at the cutting edge of the art world, because they’re the new vanguard—and it takes a special sort of person to see their potential and invest in their careers. But with so much to gain (and at a more accessible price point), why wouldn’t a forward-thinking collector be sure to pepper them into their collections?
Art collections aren’t mere financial investments: they should spark joy and elevate your life. Why not look to emerging artists to bring a little color into your world?
How do emerging artists fit into your own collection? Do you prefer to invest in the up-and-comers, or do you prefer the validation of a longstanding successful career? Let us know in the comments!