Many traits seem to be able to commonly define collectors, whatever the object of the collection. However, the collectors who support art «in the process of making» are distinguished by more varied practices than those usually found in all collectors. In addition to being a purchaser, the collector of contemporary art is likely to have an impact on artistic life, particularly through the material support provided to artists and because he contributes to the construction of artistic value. This peculiarity is all the more notable since the commitment of the collector is not the prerogative of a single wealthy elite, as shown by the typology of the profiles of collectors established in this book.
Graduate, senior and Paris
Mostly male (73% of collectors are men), the collector population is distinguished by its higher degree level than the general population. Almost two-thirds are over the age of 50 and almost half live in Île-de-France, two characteristics that are similar to those of cultural audiences. The average age of collectors is partly explained by the financial capacity related to the life cycle. While almost half made their first acquisition between 20 and 30 years, a third started their collection even earlier. Contemporary art collections are varied in size and nature: one in five collections has more than 200 pieces, while more than a third have fewer than fifty. For the most part, it is primarily painting, sculpture, photography or drawing for three-quarters of the collections, and much less frequently video or installations.
From altruistic commitment to economic motivation
The collector of contemporary art also acts through his commitment to artists. It is also in contact with art galleries and museums, thus participating in the dissemination of art and contributing to the notoriety of artists. His investment in artistic life, the intensity of which is correlated with the size of his collection, meets various motivations. Individual motives (seeking aesthetic pleasure), social motives (desire to distinguish oneself or to integrate into a coveted social environment) and financial motives (to enrich oneself, to constitute a patrimony) combine in their activity as collectors. The intensity of these motivations and their hierarchy varies over the years.
Tuesday, May 12, 2015 from 9 am to 12 pm at the Centre Pompidou, a meeting will bring together authors, researchers and gallery owners to present and debate the results of this book. Full program and registration on:
«Collectors of contemporary art: unknown actors of artistic life»
Nathalie Moureau, Dominique Sagot-Duvauroux, Marion Vidal
20 p. - April 2015 - Coll. “Culture études” 2015-1