COLLECTING WITH KATIE HUGHES BROUWER
WHAT MADE YOU WANT TO START COLLECTING ART?
Art makes a house a home, so as we started to build a family and craft a home around that we wanted to start to fill it with heirlooms that were a reflection of our individual and collective memories and tastes.
WHAT WAS THE FIRST ARTWORK THAT YOU PURCHASED?
My husband and I got engaged in Holbox and stayed at a beautiful hotel filled with Cuban and Mexican art. I spent the week we were there negotiating with the owner for a painting that was in the dining room. We settled on a price and shipped it home, and it now lives in our bedroom. It’s still in the same beat-up old frame that they had it in, it’s perfect.
WHAT DOES YOUR MARGARET CHEATHAM WILLIAMS PIECE SAY ABOUT YOU?
Margaret Cheatham and my parents both have beach houses on the same small island in North Carolina, so I knew I wanted a film photograph of hers from that beach. She was kind enough to share with me a whole folder of images to spend time with and we landed on the piece for our family room. It’s a testament to this special place, to the coast, to my family and to my connection with the artist.
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN COLLECTING?
We started collecting the year we bought our first house and my parents were kind enough to send us a few special prints from their collection. The first piece we bought ourselves was when we were engaged and then for our first anniversary, it was also around the time our daughter was born, so I splurged on a piece by Australian artist Heath Wae. I tell my friends it was my push present.
HOW DO YOU SOURCE YOUR COLLECTION?
I think sourcing art is what people struggle with the most when they want to start to fill their home with art. Where do I buy it? Can I afford it? There’s so little accessibility or transparency in the art world - from the outside it feels like it’s all oligarchs bidding at Sotheby’s. Dad encouraged me to build relationships with galleries who promote emerging local artists. If you’re in the Bay Area, check out pt.2 Gallery, Jessica Silverman and Moxie’s Daughter. Find an incredible framer like Small Works in San Francisco.
In terms of how I decide - I like to say “if it’s not a hell yes, it’s a no.” I shouldn’t have to ask anyone else what they think of a piece, I should feel in my bones it’s something I have to have. Sometimes my husband and I disagree, but that’s another story…maybe another collector can weigh in on how they handle that. :)