As an art collector, staying up-to-date, informed about, and inspired by the ecosystem is crucial. Art blogs do just that! Especially in a time-poor world, it is helpful to know where to go to read about the experiences of other collectors and learn new facets of acquiring, protecting, and transferring ownership of the collection, be it through donation to a deserving institution or family members or through sale.
The benefits of art blogs
Blogs offer a vast hub of information and diverse topics. Whether you’re a newbie or an experienced collector, blogs also enable you to branch out into other aspects of your art collecting journey – from purchasing new artworks, discovering artists whose careers and works you want to follow to being supported on your collection management process and learning from other art collectors.
We’ve curated a list of six blogs (in alphabetical order) to check out and update you on the latest news and observations from various parts of the world. With a few exceptions, many of these blogs are for marketplace platforms that facilitate the buying and selling of artworks.
Artnet
Artnet is an art market website. A company based in New York, US, operates Artnet and is owned by Artnet AG, based in Berlin, Germany. Founded in 2012, it is an expansive platform covering buying and selling art and exhibitions; however, navigating to the News page provides updates on industry news across the categories of the Art World, the Market and the Podcast they host. One thing to note is that Artnet predominantly focuses its content on the Global North, namely the US and Europe. Also, you’ll find banner ads scattered throughout the articles. But overall, it is focused on commentary.
For Collectors, the Collectors sub-category in the Art World category covers articles about several art collectors worldwide.
Artsy
Artsy markets itself as the world’s largest online marketplace. It is a global organisation with a mission to support emerging and established artists worldwide. Artsy has also helped visit, albeit virtually, many art fairs worldwide and see the artworks exhibited at such events.
With new articles published daily or even a few times a day, this blog is packed full of intriguing content. You’ll find a diverse range of topics, from navigating significant art world events like ’10 Must-See Shows during Art Basel 2024′ to etiquette guides like ‘The Dos and Don’ts of Bringing a Dog to Art World Events.’
Navigate to the Editorial page to access the content most relevant to collectors. The Editorial page contrasts with the blog link found in the website’s footer, which is more for employees, outlines corporate events, and discusses corporate culture. The website aims to be relevant to both artists and art collectors, so the content is also aimed at both audiences, which undoubtedly benefits both audiences.
Capital Art
Capital Art is the first platform on the list that isn’t a dealer or online marketplace. As a collection management platform, the blog covers topics focused on the collector and what collectors will find interesting. With a corporate mission to ensure all artworks are fairly valued in the global art ecosystem for a more inclusive society, the blog spotlights events and artists from the African continent, a perspective often omitted in the worldwide discourse around art and art collecting.
Capital Art offers manageable and easily navigable content as art blogs go. Posts in 2024 have been published once a month, allowing readers to keep up with the latest updates easily. Those who prefer to receive content in their email inbox can sign up for a newsletter.
To support collectors in their artist discovery, it is best to follow their Instagram or Facebook content to see the works of artists whose practice you may want to follow.
Frieze
Frieze is a leading platform for modern and contemporary art, dedicated to artists, galleries, collectors and art lovers alike. It comprises publications, four international art fairs, a permanent gallery space and talks and summits.
The art blog content on their website is split across Editorial Content, covering profiles, interviews, opinion pieces and reviews, and the Magazine. The content is available in English and Korean.
The profiles section focuses mainly on artist profiles. It helps delve (note: AI did not write this article) deeper into an artist’s practice and helps collectors discover artists. The reviews section is worth perusing for critical analysis of exhibitions, which is essential for any art ecosystem so that artists, curators, and collectors can use the feedback to strengthen the ecosystem.
The website generates new content relatively often, sometimes twice daily. The content also contains a gallery guide, which focuses on galleries exhibited at Frieze fairs. This guide thus adds a barrier on the one hand for galleries that are yet to be at the level of affording to exhibit at Frieze. In contrast, galleries that exhibit at international fairs like Frieze indicate a level of commercial success, which benefits the artists they represent and the investment artworks whose value is more likely to be supported over time.
Larry’s List
Larry’s List is a leading art collector editorial and art market knowledge company and the only other non-art dealer on our list. While the co-founders are German, the Hong Kong-based website offers a more diverse perspective. It has a differentiator of more representation in the articles related to collectors and artists from Asia, notably China.
The categories of posts are Talks, Private Museum Insights, Arterior (focused on interior decorating) and Features.
One element that is also a differentiator is the reports that Larry’s List releases on various art collector-related topics, such as The Art Collector Instagram Attention Report.
The blog publishes new content with a comfortable cadence that should be manageable.
Pavillon 54
Pavillon 54 is one of the go-to platforms for African art, connecting artists, collectors, buyers, institutions, and art lovers worldwide. It’s a global digital marketplace for buying contemporary African art and a community around Modern and Contemporary Art from Africa and its Diaspora.
Navigate to the P54 Magazine page to find their art blog available in English and French. Posts are generally every 2-3 weeks, meaning it is easy enough to catch up on any articles one might have missed.
P54 Magazine covers various topics of interest primarily to art collectors and artists. An example is an overview of the Lagos Biennale 2024. It also includes some collector profiles that one would not ordinarily find in other collector profiling platforms, which gives it an edge.
Tell us which art blogs you follow
Let us know which art blogs for collectors you read by popping us an email or DM on social media and we can feature them in future posts.