The majority of the works in our inaugural Contemporary Art Auction on March 13th come from three prominent North Carolina collections - that of former North Carolina Museum of Art Director Dr. Larry Wheeler and Don Doskey, Drs. Carlos Garcia-Velez and W. Kent Davis, and Allen Thomas Jr. These gentleman have had their fingers on the pulse of the contemporary art scene in the Southeastern United States for decades, and have accumulated untold wisdom about the field, which can so often feel unwieldy to newcomers. Here we plumb the depths of their experience to gain a little insight into how to approach the process of buying, and enjoying, the work of today's artists.
1. How do you see this auction enhancing the contemporary art market in the Southeast?
LW & DD: The traditional modes of art resale have been gallerists and directly from collector to collector. This is not adequate for responding to the expanding secondary market - with this auction, we open a new and heretofore missing avenue.
CGV & WKD: Collections of high caliber and national recognition are underrepresented in NC, and the Southeast in general. The more we put ourselves out there, the more the art world and other collectors will take notice. In addition, limiting the auction to high quality works of art, and internationally recognized artists will attract other important collectors now, and in the future.
ATJ: Anytime an auction offers quality contemporary work in excellent condition with tight provenance, you will attract buyers. Among North Carolina collectors there has always been a sense that our state has within its borders work by many of the world's greatest artists, and educating the public to that is key.
LW & DD: The traditional modes of art resale have been gallerists and directly from collector to collector. This is not adequate for responding to the expanding secondary market - with this auction, we open a new and heretofore missing avenue.
CGV & WKD: Collections of high caliber and national recognition are underrepresented in NC, and the Southeast in general. The more we put ourselves out there, the more the art world and other collectors will take notice. In addition, limiting the auction to high quality works of art, and internationally recognized artists will attract other important collectors now, and in the future.
ATJ: Anytime an auction offers quality contemporary work in excellent condition with tight provenance, you will attract buyers. Among North Carolina collectors there has always been a sense that our state has within its borders work by many of the world's greatest artists, and educating the public to that is key.
Dr. Larry Wheeler
2. It seems that you have been collecting together for some years - how do you function together as a group of collectors?
LW & DD: We are friends. All of us have collected independently but often attend art fairs and galleries together. We often collect similar material but each of our tastes is quite different from the other.
CGV & WKD: We are all passionate about art, and as with any passion, one likes to share it. As individuals, we travel the world and visit private collections, museums, art shows, Biennales, artist studios, galleries, etc. This allows us to get a global perspective on the art world, and on what artists are creating in response to the world around us. Art reflects the times in which we live. When we see things that excite us, we share them with each other.
We all see and approach art differently, and collect in different ways, so sharing our interests with each other opens our eyes to things that we may not have seen (or responded to) on our own. These conversations, as a group of collectors, are invaluable to the decisions about what we collect.
ATJ: While we have been collecting together for close to 20 years, the collections are quite different, which isn't unexpected. I take inspiration from work in friends' homes and there is certainly an imprint in my collection from all the collectors in this sale.
LW & DD: We are friends. All of us have collected independently but often attend art fairs and galleries together. We often collect similar material but each of our tastes is quite different from the other.
CGV & WKD: We are all passionate about art, and as with any passion, one likes to share it. As individuals, we travel the world and visit private collections, museums, art shows, Biennales, artist studios, galleries, etc. This allows us to get a global perspective on the art world, and on what artists are creating in response to the world around us. Art reflects the times in which we live. When we see things that excite us, we share them with each other.
We all see and approach art differently, and collect in different ways, so sharing our interests with each other opens our eyes to things that we may not have seen (or responded to) on our own. These conversations, as a group of collectors, are invaluable to the decisions about what we collect.
ATJ: While we have been collecting together for close to 20 years, the collections are quite different, which isn't unexpected. I take inspiration from work in friends' homes and there is certainly an imprint in my collection from all the collectors in this sale.
Sally Mann (VA), Untitled, from the Mother Land: Virginia series
3. Do you collect with a particular focus in mind or are your choices more fluid?
LW & DD: Our tastes are fluid, always responding to new artists and new movements. There are themes in all our collections because they reflect personal taste.
CGV & WKD: Yes. We actively collect contemporary art only. We don't have a curated collection, as we respond to all sorts of contemporary art, themes and mediums. We have everything from minimalist art to figurative and abstract art; some of it focusing on process. We also collect photography.
ATJ: I have a very fluid collection that covers many media and processes. I've been told more than once that I should try to focus my collection a bit more, but I don't know how. I focused on photography for many years but now have no limitations.
LW & DD: Our tastes are fluid, always responding to new artists and new movements. There are themes in all our collections because they reflect personal taste.
CGV & WKD: Yes. We actively collect contemporary art only. We don't have a curated collection, as we respond to all sorts of contemporary art, themes and mediums. We have everything from minimalist art to figurative and abstract art; some of it focusing on process. We also collect photography.
ATJ: I have a very fluid collection that covers many media and processes. I've been told more than once that I should try to focus my collection a bit more, but I don't know how. I focused on photography for many years but now have no limitations.
4. How do you identify value in the work of emerging artists, so much of which is new to collectors?
LW & DD: We generally buy from respected dealers who have vetted the work, but we all buy what we respond to viscerally. In other words, buy what you like - but know as much as you can about the artists.
CGV& WKD: After 25 years of looking at art, buying art and meeting/talking to artists, gallerists, curators and other collectors, one develops a keen eye for quality and longevity. That is why it is important to keep a finger on the pulse of the national and international art scene. By doing so, one sees trends and nuances of developing art movements. Within these movements, one sees different levels of quality of artists and their works. Frankly, sometimes it's a guessing game and one relies on one's intuition and intangible "gut feeling".
ATJ: It takes a lot of research, and then it becomes second nature. I used to collect auction catalogues and used those for reference. Going to artists' studios and gallery crawls and taking note of the price of everything is a good start.
LW & DD: We generally buy from respected dealers who have vetted the work, but we all buy what we respond to viscerally. In other words, buy what you like - but know as much as you can about the artists.
CGV& WKD: After 25 years of looking at art, buying art and meeting/talking to artists, gallerists, curators and other collectors, one develops a keen eye for quality and longevity. That is why it is important to keep a finger on the pulse of the national and international art scene. By doing so, one sees trends and nuances of developing art movements. Within these movements, one sees different levels of quality of artists and their works. Frankly, sometimes it's a guessing game and one relies on one's intuition and intangible "gut feeling".
ATJ: It takes a lot of research, and then it becomes second nature. I used to collect auction catalogues and used those for reference. Going to artists' studios and gallery crawls and taking note of the price of everything is a good start.
Detail from Joshua Tree Series by Sam Falls (American, born 1984)
5. How do you balance different media in your collections, from sculpture to photography to textiles and more?
LW & DD: We collect all media. Photography was an emphasis 20 years ago - and still is - but we always respond to excellent paintings, drawings, prints, and exquisite and funky sculpture. Recently, we've collected African sculpture and textiles.
CGV & WKD: We don't. We collect what speaks to us regardless of the medium.
ATJ: I don't, it's a zoo.
LW & DD: We collect all media. Photography was an emphasis 20 years ago - and still is - but we always respond to excellent paintings, drawings, prints, and exquisite and funky sculpture. Recently, we've collected African sculpture and textiles.
CGV & WKD: We don't. We collect what speaks to us regardless of the medium.
ATJ: I don't, it's a zoo.
6. If you could give new collectors of contemporary art one piece of advice, what would it be?
LW & DD: Take risks but be smart.
CGV & WKD: BUY WHAT YOU LOVE! Remember, you have to live with it, and look at it every day. Also, don't buy the first thing you see; do your homework.
ATJ: Buy what you love, always. And do your research - cull through contemporary art magazines and find artists and work that you respond to, call galleries and inquire.
The Contemporary Art Auction
Live Auction
Friday, March 13th
6:30pm (EDT)
LW & DD: Take risks but be smart.
CGV & WKD: BUY WHAT YOU LOVE! Remember, you have to live with it, and look at it every day. Also, don't buy the first thing you see; do your homework.
ATJ: Buy what you love, always. And do your research - cull through contemporary art magazines and find artists and work that you respond to, call galleries and inquire.
The Contemporary Art Auction
Live Auction
Friday, March 13th
6:30pm (EDT)