Photography Gallery

Collecting art can be a toughie. There is so much out there and knowing where to start can be daunting if you are just embarking. I always stick by the old adage “use your gut,” and if you love it — really love it — then you will want to live with it.

I grew up with art, since both my parents are painters and creative types — my mother, a realist, and my father paints in looser oils and landscapes. Looking back now, I was so lucky to be surrounded by such a creative community — all my parents’ friends met at the Ontario College of Art & Design, and made their collective livings in creative fields. We always had paintings and drawings hung up at home, and my parents didn’t shy away from clashing styles of works hung next to each other. I’ve inherited some of their pieces, but I’ve been choosy about which piece to hang where.

This is one of my dad’s pieces. I love this painting.

What I don’t have at home, though, is any professional photography. I was recently at Elte here in Toronto, on their fabulous new second floor, and I noticed a gallery. (Can you see me taking the picture?) YellowKorner was created in 2006 by two friends, Alexandre de Metz and Paul-Antoine Briat. The YellowKorner concept is quite simple: to introduce the greatest photographers from all over the world and to increase the number of copies of their work and make them accessible to as many collectors as possible. If you are nearby, check it out, or go to Yellowkorner.com.

Here’s one corner from the space at Elte.

This piece by Turkish photographer Ebru Sidar entitled “Dance Floor” caught my eye. Gelatin silver print. 23-1/2″ x 23-1/2″ unframed. $355.

Tell me, how did you build up your own art collection?

For some great art tips, see Suzanne Dimma’s blog post on Investing In Affordable Art and Joel Bray’s blog post on Collecting Art.

Photo credits:
1-4. Morgan Michener