1. Starting a Collection
The influence of family was the most common route into collecting (28% of respondents, and 40% of Gen Z), whether through a family collection (14%) or a family member’s encouragement. Overall, 72% of the sample had inherited artworks. Cultural exposure through visits to museums, galleries, and fairs was the second most common starting point (22%), followed by financial interests (14%), friends or peers (13%), online discovery (13%), and work or studies (10%).
Most collectors started out in traditional fine art mediums: 43% named paintings among their first three purchasing areas, with 25% reporting sculptures. Younger collectors were more likely to start in these traditional mediums than older ones. Antiques were the second most common entry point to collecting overall (27%), with decorative art (19%) and jewelry and gems (17%) next among collectibles. Despite strong current activity in luxury collectibles, there was little evidence these markets served as a gateway into art collecting.