FASHION Magazine

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Art lovers and party enthusiasts alike flocked to the Art Gallery of Ontario last night for its eighth annual Massive Party fundraiser. Spread throughout many of the gallery’s floors, guests mingled among works of art from the AGO’s collection and special exhibits that played off the party’s theme of “LIGHT SOUND OBJECT PAST PRESENT FUTURE.” While this message was projected as part of a light show on the very-coveted third floor, it might not have resonated with all the guests. “I think the theme is high school?” one attendee said after getting pinned with a “2nd Place” ribbon by a team of mock cheerleaders dressed in blue and white. (Their cheer? “Second is the new first!”)

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Jeanne Beker’s lifelong romance with fashion has been widely broadcast over the years, but did you know that she’s also an art lover? The Fashion Television host has been collecting contemporary art since 1980, beginning with her first painting from artist Marion Perlet. “Starting a collection seems daunting because it sounds like you’re making a commitment to a certain style or form or sensibility or type of work,” says Beker. “Art is all around us and exists in so many wonderful, different forms and at so many different price points.”
Beker was invited by the Art Gallery of Ontario to share several works from her diverse collection as part of the gallery’s Collector’s Series. FASHION got a one-on-one tour of her favourite pieces, along with some tips for would-be art aficionados. “Buy something that really speaks to you at the moment,” she advises. “And don’t ever buy anything just because you think it’s going to look good over your couch!”

Collecting art can seem daunting, unapproachable and, in many cases, simply out of our reach. Yet, when you ask seasoned collectors how they started, many of them say that they bought their first piece in their 20s or 30s. So how to begin when you are young, working hard and have only a small amount of disposable income?

We asked a dear friend and avid art collector this question over a cup of coffee in Toronto. He provided us with the handy list below (and trust us when we say this is coming from a real expert):

I love soaking up my city’s cultural scene-especially when it’s free! While searching for local library hours, I discovered that my library card gives me access to not only books and back issues, but museums, galleries and historic sites too. A Sun Life Financial Museum and Arts Pass (borrowed from branches across Toronto, torontopubliclibrary.ca) admits […]

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