Beyond the Gallery Wall: A Curator’s Guide to Building a Private Collection

If you’ve walked through the doors of the gallery lately, you’ve seen the "Curator" version of me. That version is looking for bold narratives, museum-quality technique, and works that challenge our audience.

But lately, I’ve been spending time with a different version of myself: The Private Collector.

This year, I’ve set a personal goal to build my own private collection. And I’ll be honest, even with years of experience curating exhibitions for a gallery, doing it for my own four walls feels entirely different. It’s vulnerable. It’s specific. And it’s teaching me lessons that I think every first-time collector needs to hear.

1. Appreciation Doesn’t Always Mean Acquisition

One of the hardest lessons to learn is that you can deeply admire an artist’s work without needing to own it.

I recently sat with a piece depicting a father holding his child. It was masterfully done, but the father’s back was covered in bloody scratches, a raw, honest look at the "pain" of parenthood. As a curator, I recognized it as a masterpiece. But as an individual in a season of life where I want to focus on the joys of parenthood rather than the scars, I realized I didn't want to wake up to that intensity every morning.

The Lesson: Not including a piece in your home isn’t a critique of the art. It’s an act of protecting your personal space. You can love the "story," but decide it isn't your story to live with right now.

2. The Power of "Experience from Afar"

Let’s talk about the "B" word: Budget. We’ve all been there, falling in love with a piece that is simply out of reach financially. In those moments, it’s easy to feel disconnected. But I’ve realized that you can still be a patron of that artist.

Artists create because they want their stories to be heard. Even if a purchase isn’t in the cards today, your "praise" is a currency of its own. When you engage with our posts, leave a thoughtful comment on a story, or share an artist’s work with a friend, that artist feels seen. In the studios I visit, I’ve seen how much it encourages an artist to know their work is resonating across the world. Don’t hold your praise back just because you aren't holding a receipt.

3. Aesthetics vs. Resonance

When I’m curating for the gallery, I think about how a piece fits into a broader cultural conversation. When I’m curating for my home, I look less at "decor" and more at "individual resonance."

I don't have a rigid theme for my private collection. I’m not looking for pieces that "match the rug." I’m waiting for the moment when I look at a piece and simply know. I’m looking for works that speak to me as an individual, pieces I want to see every single day, regardless of whether they "fit" the traditional rules of interior design.

A Question for You...

As I navigate this journey of building a collection that feels like "me," I’m curious about your process.

When you are looking at art, do you find yourself choosing based on how it looks in your room (the aesthetic), or how it makes you feel when you’re alone with it (the resonance)?

I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments. Let’s talk about the pieces that have moved you lately.

Warmly,

Kay