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The “Hidden Treasures” of Young Collectors
By Tricia Ferdinand
When you think “art collection” do you envision a dusty old room filled with antique things owned by someone who could be your grandmother or grandfather? Typically the general impression people have of those who collect art is that they are ridiculously wealthy and, how do we say, of a certain age. The truth is, however, that anyone with a penchant for a certain kind of motif, or with a love for musicians depicted on canvass et cetera can collect art that speaks to their particular interests, regardless of social status or age. Collecting art should not necessarily be a marker of your status in life, but it should say a lot about who you are as a person, what your values are, what makes you tick.
This is why the collection at the African American Museum of Art in Philadelphia entitled “Hidden Treasures: The Art of Young Collectors” was so wonderful! The exhibit, which ran from January 15th through March 8th, 2009, was an excellent assortment of works collected by young black people of various walks of life. There were some young professionals of course, the majority of whom were lawyers, but there were also pieces belonging to artistic collectors. The one thing all these young adults had in common was an appreciation for art as well as the drive to own certain signature pieces both as a representation of themselves as well as a general homage to both the artist and the work itself.
Accompanying each piece was a short description of the collector’s name and a tale of what attracted them to that particular painting and how they came to acquire the work of art. For some a few of the pieces represent their first purchases, their first foray into ownership after becoming established in their young adulthood. One collector, Frances Fattah, who is now a lawyer, mentions that she purchased a particular piece for herself after passing her Bar exam. It represented not only her connection with other art collectors, but it also had specific emotional significance for her.
The same can probably be said of any of the young collectors who no doubt connected with the pieces they purchased in some way or another. One collector mentions that she bought a painting because the large sad eyes of the little black girl in the painting captivated her. Another set of collectors, Mr. and Mrs. Clotman, purchased a piece specifically because it was a depiction of a man in a suit playing a guitar.
They noted: “The gentleman’s cross-legged picture and pork-pie hat conjure images of Buddy Guy and Muddy Waters performing in small towns in the Deep South.”
The African American Museum of Art in Philadelphia showcased some other interesting exhibits, including “Soul Soldiers,” which depicted the experience of an African American soldier during the Vietnam War.
Yet, the young professionals’ exhibit was interesting to see, not only because of the variety of artistic pieces on display, but also because of what it means to be a young art collector in this day and age.
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