An interview with Patricia Christie, interviewed by Alejandra Christie.

‘If a work of art brings you happiness, develops a thought process in your mind, takes you places or transforms your vision of the world, you have reason enough to own it.’ This is the response I got from our founder, collector extraordinaire and my mother, Patricia, during our first Patricia Christie Galleries reboot meeting, sitting in a café in a mall in Dubai in January 2024. The question precursing the response – ‘How do you start an art collection?’

We grew up in a house with more paintings in wardrobes than clothes. All wall space was taken by works of art. Once the other storage spaces in the house were full, the turnover pieces made their way to our wardrobes. I witnessed firsthand how a collector thinks and the power of art.

I asked my mother a few questions which we hope will inspire you to grow your art collection or help you decide to start collecting.

– Do you remember the first piece of art you bought?

The first piece I bought was a pencil portrait of my grandmother Matilde Espinosa painted by my grandfather Efraim Martinez. A cousin of mine had inherited it. He needed some money and was selling this drawing. My brothers asked if I wanted to buy it and happily, I did. That was in 1988.

– What do you like about art?

Art clears my mind. To me is like meditating, it relaxes me and gives me peace. I personally wouldn’t buy a piece of art that reminds me constantly of war, for example. 

– What do you look for in a piece of art?

There are a few things I look for. One of the first things I look for is the effort the artist has put into making it, or uniqueness in the work. If an artist has spent time planning, working on the composition and colours, I’m interested in it.

On the other side, I also look for when the artist has created something special with minimal effort, but with clear mastery and years of practice in the lead-up to a final painting.  

I love the story behind a painting, or an alternative meaning that makes a painting grow over time.

– If someone is thinking about starting to collect Art, where should they begin?

The first thing I tell a new collector is start small. Have patience and begin with affordable artwork from emerging artists which can be found on online platforms and local galleries.

You can start an art collection by looking for artists you like, building an understanding of your preferences. By browsing Instagram using hashtags like #EmergingArtists, #ContemporaryArt or #ArtDiscover and saving what catches your eye – you’ll subequently start seeing patterns in your saves. Attend art exhibitions, visit Galleries and notice the artists you are drawn to.  

In digging deeper into things like artist reputation, auction results and market demand you will learn a lot.  By doing a search on the sale prices over time or finding out if an artist has sold at any prominent auctions, you can start getting into that side of collecting.

Or it can be completely impulsive – follow your heart and if you see something that you like, if you just want to have it and if the price is right for you. I would always caution against solely focusing on monetary investment potential. Nothing is guaranteed in the art world, so make sure you like what you purchase.

– Where do you find art and artists?

 I find art in exhibitions and in smaller auctions. But it’s not only in in-person scenarios – I also find art by finding artists, which I do online mainly through Instagram. My feed is full of art, artists, galleries and museums.

– How do you become better informed on art?

I listen to a lot of Podcasts. For example I subscribe to the The Week in Art podcast by The Art Newspaper for a good round-up of current events. On the same topic but with more focus I really like The Great Women Artists podcast by Katy Hessel. She concentrates on women artists, old and new, some of who were totally ignored regardless of being as talented as their male counterparts – a point sadly often overlooked in the Art world. Others I listen to are Women Artists From Latin America by Daniela Galan’s Amalgama, and I must also include ArtTactic and The Art Business Podcast in the list.

I follow the leading art institutions. You have the old aces like Sotheby’s and Christie’s, Phillips and The Whitney. Then you have the tech geniuses like Artsy and Marine Tanguey. I follow auction results and market trends and talk about them with my peers to get their take on current events.

– How often do you buy something new?

I buy a new piece of art when I can’t resist not having it, and when I feel the price is right for me. I also tend to give my children a work of art as a gift for big milestones, like a graduation or engagement. I’d rather give them something that’s value could increase, while helping them along with their own collections. My youngest daughter is about to buy her first flat and she’s snooping around the collection making a wish list of what she wants to take with her! That makes me so happy – but she’s not getting all she wants!

– How do you consider the price you’re willing to pay?

I get the best that I can afford with the budget I have at the time. There is plenty that I can’t afford. And if you are starting out in art collecting, you really should start with what you can.

– What do you have your eye on?

I would love to have a piece from English artist Eileen Cooper. I like the way she projects so much emotion and physiological insight with such few lines and colours. The way she paints is very original. She uses fast and strong strokes that add depth and realism to her work. The themes are relatable to me – womanhood and relationships. I’ve been following her for a while. I first saw her work at the summer exhibition at the Royal Academy of Arts here in London a couple of years ago. I can’t have one just now, so I’m considering a limited edition print.