Where to Start When Building an Art Collection
Most people who collect art didn't set out to be collectors. They bought one piece because it stopped them in their tracks, and then at some point they looked around and realized they had several and started thinking about what came next.
If that sounds familiar, you're already further along than you think.
Buy what you actually respond to
The most common mistake new collectors make is buying for the room before buying for themselves. A piece chosen to match a sofa is a decoration. A piece chosen because something in it won't let you look away is the beginning of a collection.
That instinct is worth trusting. At Mimi's, artists like Karen Matz, Shane Evensen, and Lillian French each work in distinctly different styles. The collectors who respond most strongly to one often don't respond the same way to another. That's not a problem. That's how a personal collection develops its character.
You don't need a theme, but consistency helps
A cohesive collection doesn't require a rigid theme. It requires that the pieces feel like they belong to the same person. Color palette, subject matter, mood, medium: any one of these threads can tie a collection together without making it feel curated to a formula.
Original paintings and works on paper anchor a collection. Smaller pieces, like greeting cards printed from original works and home decor items designed by gallery artists, let you extend the same visual language into more of your space without the same investment. At Mimi's, most of the artists whose originals hang on the walls also have work available in those smaller formats, which makes it easier to build a coherent look across a whole room.
Buy originals when you can
Prints have their place, but originals are what hold meaning over time. When you own a piece by Jacqueline Salvesen or Jeremy Pappa, you own the actual object they made: the decisions, the revisions, the moment they put the brush down. That doesn't transfer to a reproduction.
It also doesn't have to mean a significant financial commitment to start. Original work at Mimi's spans a wide range of price points, and buying one strong original is a better foundation for a collection than several pieces you feel neutral about.
Let it grow slowly
The collections that end up meaning the most are the ones built over years, not assembled in an afternoon. Give yourself permission to wait for the right piece rather than filling space. A wall with one painting you love is better than a wall covered in things you settled for.
Mimi's is open Tuesday through Saturday, 11am to 6pm. If you're building a collection, or just starting to think about it, it's worth stopping in and spending some time with the work. Call ahead at 386-481-9600.
