Art Collector Quotes

Collecting defines the object's value as well as the owner's status, taste, and positioning in the Artworld.

The urge to possess or fomo often obscures the art itself. A collection reveals the buyer's specific individuality. These quotes examine the pillars and often victims of the art market: collectors.

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Adam Lindemann

Gallerist, collector and writer
"Opening a gallery as a collector really does succeed in alienating both sides."
✒ Artnet News (2025)

Claus Busch Risvig

Collector
“There has to be some friction that irritates my eye. It must not be too pretty. Instead, it must trigger something that will challenge and push me. I am not only driven by aesthetic but in equal part the story that the artwork carries. For example, I am often preoccupied with works that have a political aspect. Works that comment on our current situation. I am not a member of any political party, but my choice of politically charged artworks are, perhaps, my way of expressing my political engagement with the world.”

✒The Collectors Agenda

Dean Valentine

Collector & art fair co‑founder

"People can’t afford a house let alone a painting. The market has become separated from the fundamentals. It needs to reform."

✒The Storm Hits the Art Market, 2025

Ding Yixiao

Private museum owner, collector
"Tired of buying from galleries because of the fucking package deal and fucking non-resale. And auction house taking the fucking 26% commission and fucking expensive shipping fee all the time."
✒ Artnet News (2025)

Don Rubell

Co-founder of the Rubell Museum
"When we buy an artist, we try to stay with them until they come to fruition... We sometimes buy before the essence is clear, but we will continue to chase. Because there is no such thing as a great young artist; there are only artists with potential."

✒ Christie's, "Collecting power couple Don and Mera Rubell on their passion project" (2021)

Nicole Scuderi

CEO
“A lot of clients want to keep shipping under 10 percent of the value… If artworks are under $10,000 or even a little higher, it doesn’t always make sense to ship them.”
✒ The Art Trade’s ‘Necessary Evil’ Keeps Getting More Expensive — Artnet News 2026

Jason Bailey

CEO
"Buy art you love, from artists that you want to see succeed, for prices you can afford, with the assumption that you'll never be able to resell it again, and you will always be happy"
✒ “Artnome’s infamous quote” Kate Vass Gallery blog

Julia Stoschek

Collector

“The third aspect of the core of the concept of the collection. This sounds very easy but I can tell you it is not: I’ll try to acquire key pieces, masterpieces, large-scale installation and important groups of work because I want to capture the heart of an artist oeuvre and I want to bring together a coherent body of works”

✒ On Collecting | DLD conference

Pamela J. Joyner

Art Collector and Activist

"One thing I know now is that the enemy of a personal collection is water, including a humidifier, and young children. Never put an unprotected canvas in a trafficked area. And if there’s work being done on your home and you’re not there, don’t trust anybody."

✒ Artnet News, "Ask Questions, Train Your Eye, and Be Patient: 7 Art Collectors Reveal Key Advice" (2025)

Stefan Simchowitz

Collector and gallerist

"I look for an artist who would rather be in a studio then socializing at Art Basel. I look for artists who understand that having the access to capital to produce is the most important thing."

✒ Whitehot Magazine, "Stefan Simchowitz Interview: If You Can’t Join Them, Beat Them" (2024)

Timo Niemeyer

Collector

"I often paint portraits of women from the past, women that tried to break the rules. We still need to break the rules, we still don't have a real gender equality, this is my message, not always very obvious, but often added to my work."

✒ Artwork Kurt Teuscher • Photo Juliane Spaete

Fredrik Karlsson

Collector
"I would be lying if didn’t take the aspect of eventually losing money when selling into consideration. I have always been that way, no matter if it is a chair, sofa, watch, or art, I want to know if the piece has the potential of increasing in price or being stable. I don’t buy the works because I want to make money – it is my hobby and passion after all – but a good return will always be a bonus since, sometimes, you have to sell, which is hard, and a good return might make that decision a little easier."

✒ Art Collector in focus” 2017 Artland