Reviewed as of 28 September 2026.
A collection begins when purchases stop being a casual sum and start to relate to one another through a set of criteria, a record and a responsibility for conservation. It does not need to be large or expensive.
Set provisional criteria
They might start from a period, a territory, a technique, a question, a generation or a personal relationship with artists. The criteria can change. Their role is to help you look and compare, not to close the collection.
A complete budget
Separate the purchase from the costs that follow:
- taxes and commissions;
- transport and packing;
- hanging and installation;
- conservation;
- insurance;
- storage;
- documentation;
- technical maintenance.
Do not use money you need to get back by a particular date. The art market is illiquid and the costs of selling can be high.
Learn before you buy
Visit exhibitions, galleries, studios, fairs and auctions. Read catalogues and criticism. Compare works by the same artist and understand technique, edition, scale and condition.
The first purchase
Ask for identification of the work, an invoice or contract, a certificate where relevant, provenance, condition, photographs and delivery terms. Ask which rights come with the purchase.
Buying directly from the artist
Clarify price, taxes, deadlines, edition, certificate, delivery, image use and any discounts. Do not assume that a personal relationship removes the need for documents.
A record from the first work
Give the work a number, photograph the front and back, and record dimensions, location, price, seller, documentation and movements. Keep public and confidential information separate.
Conservation
Do not hang or store works by instinct. Avoid direct sunlight, damp, heat, leaks and unstable mounts. Take advice when the material calls for it.
Advice
Ask how an adviser is paid, what business relationships they have and whether they receive a commission from the seller. Independence should not be taken for granted.
Avoid
- buying under artificial pressure;
- confusing price with artistic value;
- buying without seeing the documentation;
- thinking only about increases in value;
- accumulating works without space or conservation;
- handing over your judgement entirely.
On the open conversation
This guide does not recommend artists or promise returns. Its aim is to organise decisions, costs and documentation.
If you spot an error, a broken link or a relevant change, write to me.