10 november 2023, Nienke van der Wal, Nadine van den Bosch
Tips from Het Grote Kunstkoopboek by Young Collectors Circle part 1
This month Het Grote Kunstkoopboek by Young Collectors Circle founders Nadine van den Bosch and Nienke van der Wal was released. The book, an inspiring and handy guide that takes you by the hand in a sometimes intimidating art world, tells you why collecting art is so much fun and why it is for everyone. What tips do they share for setting out on your own?
Buying art is of course first and foremost for yourself: it enriches your home, workplace and, by extension, your life: 'Collecting art makes an ordinary person lead an extraordinary life', a great Parisian collector once told us. But buying art goes beyond buying a work to hang over your sofa: art collectors fulfil an important role within the art ecosystem. They often offer support to emerging artists long before these talents are noticed by the museum world for instance.
Actor and writer Maike Meijer says about this in Het Grote Kunstkoopboek: "I regularly buy work from beginning artists. Not only because it is exciting to spot new talent, but also because it is important for the artist. It gives a boost when someone buys your work: not just a financial boost, but it also gives self-confidence to move forward. It is an encouragement and a sign of appreciation."
An example of an artist whose career was partly propelled by the support of private collectors is Piet Mondrian. A pioneer in abstract art, he was far ahead of his time. Without the support of collectors, he may not have had the opportunity to develop his signature abstract style from his early figurative work.
Neo Matloga, Keneilwe le Kagišo, 2022, Gallery Sofie Van de Velde
By supporting emerging artists, art collectors not only help individual talents but also contribute to a healthy, thriving art world where there is room for experimentation, innovation, development and critical reflection.
Plus: what could be more exciting than discovering the next Piet Mondrian, Jean-Michel Basquiat or Frida Kahlo?
Galerie Bart, GoMulan and Galerie Fleur & Wouter are among the galleries that focus on emerging talent. Galerie Ron Mandos organises the annual Best of Graduates exhibition and at Art Rotterdam you will discover young talent at Prospects, where recently graduated artists present themselves.
Interested in the book? It is available here (in Dutch only, for now): via this link.
On 26 November, Nienke van der Wal will give a talk on buying art at Broese bookshop in Utrecht (in Dutch). More information can be found here.
Want to know more about Young Collectors Circle? Go to: https://youngcollectorscircle.nl
Cover Het Grote Kunstkoopboek
