Artist Jill Nathanson advocates for collectors who prioritize personal connection over investment

Artist Jill Nathanson distinguishes between collectors who follow trends and those who develop personal relationships with art. She describes thoughtful individuals who learn through extensive viewing, often with guidance from art world professionals, to build collections reflecting genuine cultural values rather than financial speculation. Nathanson highlights two collector couples as examples. Joel and Ulrika, originally from Sweden, began collecting with guidance from David Neuman and assembled works by artists including Robert de Niro, Sr., Esteban Vicente, Hans Hofmann, Louise Nevelson, Louise Fishman, Robert Therrien, and Michal Rovner. They commissioned John Dubrow to paint a family portrait through a process involving weekly sittings over three months. Marcy and Bennett started collecting later in life, building a contemporary collection through extensive gallery visits. Their acquisitions include works by Leon Berkowitz, Atta Kwami, Melissa Meyer, Ellsworth Kelly, Richard Serra, Brice Marden, David Poppy, Elizabeth Huey, and Jill Nathanson herself. Nathanson argues that such collectors, who often operate outside auction market pressures, are essential to sustaining artistic vitality. She notes that while art fairs proliferate, this more personal approach to collecting may be increasing among mature art lovers returning to galleries after decades away.