Art Collecting 101: A Look into Candace Opper’s Collection
Our staff is comprised of seasoned art collectors and experts. We asked around our staff and asked them to talk about their collection and what draws them to the work they acquire. For our first round of this new feature, we interviewed Candace Opper our Finance Manager, and asked her all about how she goes about collecting art!
Do you collect art for yourself?
Absolutely!
Is there a theme to your collection? Or do you lean toward a certain type of media, artist, or aesthetic?
No theme, per se, though the collection reflects my aesthetic interests, which lean toward bright colors, collage, and landscape.
What is your favorite way to acquire art?
I probably get about eighty percent of my art locally, either directly from artists or from local shops that resell it. The rest is mostly through platforms like Etsy. Sometimes I reach out to artists directly.
Do you have any tips for folks wanting to build their own collection?
Start with prints—those are generally very affordable. If galleries are intimidating to you, try art and/or craft fairs, which often allow you to meet and connect with individual artists as well.
What's your favorite piece of art you own? (if you could share a photo and the artist's name, that would be great.)
I don't know that I have a favorite, but here are three I love [below].
6. What's your dream piece (or pieces!) of art that you would buy if money were no object?
Probably something by Jenny Holtzer.