I bought my first work of art when I was 21-years old. It’s a Jane drawing by Karen Kilimnik and it’s still one of my most favorite pieces that I own!

I bought it out of an exhibition that Vik Muniz curated at Stux Gallery called “Stuttering.” There were a whole group of drawings and each described some incident that Jane was experiencing. Most were relatively predictive of calamity. Mine says:

“Jane moves next-door to a hitman. He has an assignment coming up and is out of practice.“

it stopped me in my tracks when I read it. I didn’t really know anything about text-based art and I hadn’t yet met the artist, but I loved the piece for its simplicity and dark humor. It’s written with a black China crayon, and framed in a store-bought inexpensive frame, but the mat was created by the artist made from black taffeta. I love taffeta. I don’t know if anyone wears or uses it anymore, but it reminds me of junior high school proms and ballet recitals, both things Karen Kilimnik is also interested in. So how was I so lucky to end up with the piece?

First, another artist told me to buy it. I’m a big proponent of buying art with your eyes not your ears, but I also believe that artists know things that we don’t and are to be trusted.

Second, I asked for a payment plan. The work cost $250. I paid $50 a month for five months. Most gallerists will be happy that you love something so much that you’re willing to sacrifice spending on something else and pay for an artwork monthly until it’s paid off.

Third, I loved this first work so much that I felt certain I’d love it forever. Pick an artwork that you would marry, rather than one that you would date. If you collect art don’t be impulsive. Choose well. If you choose well, your first work of art becomes a gateway, not just to other works of art, but to a lifetime of experiences.

Karen Kilimnik became a really good friend of mine. I was able to present an exhibition of hers at the Aspen Art Museum. She attended my daughter‘s ballet classes with me. And the work I own was included in a show at the ICA Philadelphia, where I worked when I was in college, so I got to return to the ICA as a lender. It was a very cool full circle moment!

Finally, once you have your first work of art, hang it in your bedroom. It’s where you spend the most time in your house, and I believe that your favorite works of art should hang where you can see them as you fall asleep and wake up.

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