Building A Small Art Collection: The Pieces I Love
Obsession and Ownership
I'm quite obsessed with making my own work—trying to sell it, hoping to achieve success, and growing as an artist in general. There are few things that can pull me out of that self-focused drive to succeed, but one of them is encountering artists who truly inspire me.
I'm a huge fan of my own work, so when I see something I like more than what I make, I shift instantly from artist to collector.
Every piece I've purchased over the last five years has been something I just had to have. Some were within my starving-artist budget. Others were well outside of it, but I bought them anyway, knowing they were an investment—or at least worth the stretch. The thought of living without them genuinely hurt, so I found a way to make it work.
Why I Collect Small
Luckily for me, I prefer small art.
Even though some small works can be quite expensive, many are accessible to collectors on a budget or just entering the art world. The saying is true: buy what you love. And I love small art.
I love the preciousness of it. I love being able to keep the pieces close—often in the same room, or even on the same wall—where I can enjoy them daily. The works I've collected so far have stood the test of time. I don't get tired of looking at them, and I don't regret buying them.
Beauty First
Does the story behind the work matter to me? Honestly, not really.
That might make me different from other collectors. I'm deeply visual. If a work of art moves me with its striking beauty, I don't need to know who made it, how it was made, or why. If it stops me in my tracks, that's enough. I want to live with it.
One Piece, or an Entire World
As I collect more, I'm noticing a difference between wanting one piece from an artist and feeling connected to their entire body of work.
In both cases, the purchase feels worth it. But there are some artists I return to again and again, making multiple purchases because their work as a whole continues to speak to me. There's something powerful about recognizing an artist's voice and wanting to keep listening.
Investment (Or Not)
Of course, the idea of art as an investment crosses my mind at times. But, if the work I purchase never increases in value, I don't mind. I wish I could tell you more about auction houses, secondary markets, and the financial side of collecting, but I'm still an amateur in that world.
For now, I'm building my collection the only way I know how—slowly, intentionally, and by buying what I can't imagine living without.
From My Collection: A Small Selection
I'm Libby Saylor, a Philadelphia-based collage artist. Browse my original mixed-media works and prints in the shop.