Tell us who you are in 50 words or less.
I am a multi-hyphenate creative and collector, founder of The Edicurial Collection, and founder and creative director of Eittem, a functional sculpture studio in Manhattan. Trained in art history and interior design, my background spans interiors, historic preservation, event creative direction, and theatre – writing, directing, and set design
What is your art?
My art is the walnut sculptures I have designed for Eittem. Implausibly functioning as handbags, Eittem pieces are created in our independent studio in Manhattan by a small team of talented craftspeople.
What kind of art do you collect?
I collect art from all periods, but I have been focused on rare digital art since 2021.
What current art trends do you wish would die, or are you obsessed with?
This is more of a comment. Many people would answer this question by flagging digital art as a “trend” they wish would die. I was initially a skeptic, but beneath the headlines and unbeknownst to even the most experienced collectors, there is a treasure trove of incredible works by inspiring artists overcoming the significant obstacles to create work on the blockchain. The work is there, but it takes time, effort, and dedication to find it. It’s not going to fall in your lap.
Most valuable lesson learned from collecting?
Meet the artist. I have met roughly 80% of the artists in The Edicurial Collection, either on Zoom or in person. Learning and understanding the motivation and process behind a particular work is my favorite part of collecting.
Weirdest material of an artwork that you’ve purchased?
I collected a digital work by Cassils, $HT Coin: After Doig, from the “White Male Artist” series in 2021. It was a pastiche and satirical critique of Piero Manzoni’s conceptual artwork, Merda d’artista (1961), representing the imagined ingredients in the $HT of famous male contemporary artists based on their lifestyle and studio locations. The digital work was supported by a physical representation, in my case, allegedly containing excrement based on Doig’s suspected diet.
Most extreme thing you did to secure a piece of artwork?
I spent several hours in a bidding war for an important digital film with a famous, well-funded collector. He must have lost patience because after bidding neck and neck for what felt like an eternity, he suddenly disappeared, and I won the work. My patience and passion for the work paid off!
Shortest amount of time you’ve kept a piece of art before re-selling or donating it?
To date, I have not sold any piece from The Edicurial Collection. I want the collection to serve as a time capsule for the rare digital art expansion of 2021-2024. I have, however, gifted a few.