Collecting Art for Love, Money and More

This book provides intelligent, useful insight for art lovers, artists, and anyone curious about contemporary art and the art market. The Wagners, who are professional art advisors, counsel readers—and prospective and novice art collectors—on how to approach and find satisfaction in collecting. They discuss how reading, consulting gallerists, attending shows and art fairs, and befriending artists can help collectors understand art and develop the ability to identify unknown artists. Drawing from art-collecting history and the experience and idiosyncrasies of renowned and successful collectors, the book offers possibilities for those with limited incomes as well as wealthy art lovers and, with reservations, those investing in art primarily for financial gain. Through provocative, compelling photographs of contemporary art, art spaces, curators, and collectors, and descriptions of international art fairs, intimate gatherings with artists and curators, and various ways to approach collecting—from following the market to developing a personal style or supporting artists through philanthropy—this smartly designed book gives readers a taste of the competition, passion, pitfalls, and glamour of the art world as experienced through a collector’s unique viewpoint. (Apr.)