Carlo Prada on Collecting: 'Buy What You Hate' and the Art of Discomfort

In 2010, Carlo Prada, an Italian collector with an archaeology background, embarked on his collecting journey with a Polaroid by Haris Epaminonda from Liste. He appreciates a sense of 'disturbance' in art, resonating with collectors like Ileana Sonnabend and John Waters, who famously state, 'you buy what you hate.' His collection features pieces by Peter Wächtler, Mathieu Malouf, and Heji Shin, whose childbirth photograph he refers to as a 'Courbet revisited with explosive charge.' Prada prefers galleries with strong aesthetic philosophies, including Buchholz, Reena Spaulings, and Essex Street. His favorite work is a small sculpture by B. Wurtz, made from cork, wire, and fishing net, which he affectionately calls a 'monument for ants.' He views collecting as a personal diary and rejects waiting lists in favor of meaningful conversations with fellow collectors.