Show notes
Ceri speaks to art collectors Darryl de Prez and Victoria Thomas about their art collection, their approach to collecting and their views on why the art world needs to start recognising the true cost of art. They share their 30 year journey from meeting at the Courtauld Institute to building a stunning contemporary art collection. They talk about how their home has become an intimate evolving gallery, reflecting their commitment to supporting artists and living with art in a very personal way.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Art collecting for Darryl de Prez and Victoria Thomas isn't about investment or status but about supporting artists' practices and living with work that continues to reveal new meanings over time. They've never sold a piece and loan works freely to exhibitions.
The couple prioritises work with layers beyond aesthetics, pieces that intrigue, unsettle and challenge them. They're drawn to art that feels slightly sinister or mysterious, with an absence of humanity that creates a space for potential.
Their collection evolved organically from individual purchases to collaborative decisions. They often recognise instantly when a piece speaks to them both, sometimes watching video works repeatedly before deciding to acquire them.
Gallery relationships are crucial to their collecting. They value gallerists who educate them about artists and provide insight into practices, acknowledging galleries' vital role in supporting artists.
They buy work regardless of medium, from paintings to video installations. They embrace artists who work across different disciplines. They respect artists' evolving practices, believing an artist's distinctness remains recognisable even as their medium changes.
When hanging work in their home, they initially placed pieces wherever space allowed but now arrange more thoughtfully, discovering that works naturally develop relationships and conversations with each other across themes and concepts.
Budget constraints shape their collecting, typically spending under £5,000 per piece and relying on galleries' payment plans. They've noticed financial barriers can prevent artists from continuing their careers.
The couple wishes the art world would recognise the true cost of creating art and compensate artists fairly. They advocate for supporting artists' ‘thinking time’ and value art for its own sake, not just for economic benefit.
BEST MOMENTS
"We're attracted to work where aesthetics are important, but there needs to be something behind it, something that intrigues, that takes you further than the surface image."
"I spent a lot of time exploring all these items and creating a fantasy world around them. I think that's why with art, I'm very interested in things that are speculative narratives and realities."
"The joy of living with art is that you can experience it in a way you can't if you're looking at it in a museum. Works change with the light, they change with the time of day, they change with my mood."
"When Adham thanked us for buying his work because it enabled him to do further work, that got rid of all my bourgeois guilt about acquiring art."
"We find it incredibly moving to know that our interest in someone's work has enabled them to further develop ideas and make work they otherwise wouldn't have been able to do."
"The collection starts to have a mind of its own and it kind of dictates what you buy. We can see a work and think, 'we really love this,' but it wouldn't work with the other work we have."
"I think artists should be realistic about what the true costs are for presenting art to the public in a way that is wonderful and serious and meaningful."
EPISODE RESOURCES
PODCAST HOST BIO
With over 30 years in the art world, Ceri has worked closely with leading artists and arts professionals, managed public and private galleries and charities, and curated more than 250 exhibitions and events. She sold artworks to major museums and private collectors and commissioned thousands of works across diverse media, from renowned artists such as John Akomfrah, Pipilotti Rist, Rafael Lozano-Hemmer and Vito Acconci. Now, she wants to share her extensive knowledge with you, so you can excel and achieve your goals.
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