TL;DR
Gallery founders Lauren Sands and Chelsea Neman Nassib say art collecting can begin at any budget and does not require specialist knowledge. Their advice is to explore different artists and venues, buy work that genuinely resonates, and keep documentation about each piece.
A Veranda report featuring LES Collection founder Lauren Sands and Tappan Collective founder Chelsea Neman Nassib offers practical advice for people starting an art collection: explore broadly, follow personal taste and take time to learn about the work. The gallery owners say collecting is not limited to wealthy or experienced buyers, though they encourage purchasers to be thoughtful about price and documentation.
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The two founders frame collecting as a gradual process, not a task of filling empty walls or buying work as an investment. They advise people to visit galleries, fairs and markets, and to pay attention to the art they respond to. According to the report, Sands also recommends finding artists and galleries to follow online, including through Instagram, where artists may share work by other creators.
Neman Nassib says that learning what appeals to you can help guide later discoveries. Her advice is to trust your own taste while seeing as much art as possible. Sands likewise encourages people to begin exploring early and says a buyer need not already know where a piece will go at home before deciding it speaks to them.
The report identifies several ways to buy: galleries, art fairs, markets, auction houses and online platforms. Sands says buyers can ask artists about commissions rather than assuming custom work is only for wealthy collectors. The article also notes that LES Collection offers consultations and commissions, while Tappan Collective provides curatorial services and project management for commercial clients.
A Lower-Pressure Start to Collecting
The advice addresses a common obstacle for new buyers: uncertainty about how to judge art or whether they belong in the market. Sands and Neman Nassib argue that expertise is not a prerequisite and that a collection can develop as a person learns what they like. That approach shifts attention away from prestige or immediate financial return and toward a lasting personal connection with the work.
Their suggestions also point to practical ways to reduce uncertainty. Buyers can ask questions, compare prices across reputable sources and seek help from galleries or consultants. Keeping written material supplied with a purchase may help preserve information about a work’s provenance, or ownership and history. The report does not offer a guarantee of investment returns or a formula for determining market value.
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Two Digital Galleries’ Advice
Sands founded LES Collection after working as a lawyer and says the pandemic prompted her career change. The report describes the platform as a digital service intended to connect artists with buyers while offering education and support. Sands’ interest in art began in childhood, including visits to Artisan Works, a nonprofit gallery in upstate New York.
Neman Nassib’s Tappan Collective was founded in 2012 as a digital art gallery and education platform, according to Veranda. The report presents both founders as advocates for making contemporary art easier to discover and buy. Their comments are professional guidance from people who run art businesses, rather than independent research or a guarantee that a particular purchase will appreciate in value.
“Follow galleries that have an aesthetic you love and follow the artists themselves.”
— Lauren Sands, founder of LES Collection
Costs and Value Depend on Each Work
The report does not set out a typical budget, explain how to verify every work’s authenticity or give a method for estimating future resale prices. It says gallery purchases may help buyers obtain an original at a fair price, but that is advice attributed to the businesses featured, not a finding supported by price comparisons in the article.
Prices, commission fees, shipping, framing and availability will vary by artist and work. The source also does not specify how much consultation services cost or what records are supplied with every purchase. Buyers considering a significant expense may want to ask for written details about authenticity, condition, provenance and return terms before completing a transaction.
Explore Before Making a Purchase
The next step for a prospective collector, following the founders’ advice, is to visit exhibitions and sales, compare work from different artists and ask questions before buying. Buyers can follow galleries and artists online, attend fairs or markets, and inquire directly about commissions. The report does not announce a new service or a forthcoming industry milestone; its practical takeaway is to treat collecting as an ongoing process.
For each purchase, keep the gallery or seller’s description, receipt and any accompanying literature. Those records can help document what was bought and where it came from. A collection can then grow over time as the buyer’s interests develop, rather than being built around a single deadline or assumed investment strategy.
Key Questions
Do I need art expertise to start collecting?
No formal expertise is required, according to the gallery founders interviewed by Veranda. They recommend seeing a range of work, asking questions and learning what you personally respond to.
How should a first-time collector choose a piece?
Neman Nassib advises buyers to trust their taste and notice what draws them in. Sands says to take time exploring and not to assume a work must already have a specific place in the home.
Where can I find art to buy?
The report names galleries, art fairs, markets, auction houses and online platforms as possible sources. Sands also suggests following artists and galleries on Instagram to discover more work.
Can I ask an artist to make a commissioned work?
Yes. Sands says buyers can ask artists they like about commissions and cautions against assuming custom work is only for high-net-worth collectors. Fees and terms depend on the artist and project.
What records should I keep after buying art?
Neman Nassib recommends saving literature provided at the location or event where the work was purchased. Buyers can also keep the receipt and written information about the work, seller and its history.
Source: rss
