Collecting Art Through The Years

Stephanie, in particular, has spent the past 20 years bringing that tradition into her own home, creating a vast collection that now occupies every available wall. From her first days working at Nantucket Looms, Stephanie’s affinity developed from having been surrounded by beautiful works both in the shop and at home on Bear Street, owned by Bill & Andy (seasoned art collectors themselves). Inspired by her environment and her mentors, Stephanie invested in her first piece at the age of 25 – a small oil painting by Kevin Paulsen.

As Stephanie expressed her love for art to her friends and coworkers, they began to gift her pieces to celebrate special moments in her life. Liz, who also encouraged her interest, always gave her artwork. "Liz was always good at that. Instead of buying me a sweater, she would give me a piece of art, which was so meaningful". The Three Amigos by Anita Bierings, for example, was a gift from Liz when Stephanie's daughter, Morgan, was born. It is meant to represent their family.

(Top) The Three Amigos - Anita Bierings ; (Bottom) Late Night Town Study - Debroah Van der Wolk

Ken Layman piece (top); Painting by Robert Stark Jr. (bottom left) ; A photograph by Andy Oates (bottom right)

Behind each piece of Stephanie’s art collection lies a story, adding interest for guests. For her, however, each piece is charged with a deep emotional connection. “My collection gives you a history of moments in time, like The Three Amigos. It means so much to me, but it also represents a moment in time for me and my family. Each piece represents a milestone. It’s a reflection of different points in my life."

 

 

Despite the impressive list of artists' works she owns, or the many places from which  they came, Steph strongly believes that the value of art is not based on how expensive the piece is or fame of its creator. "You don’t have to buy expensive artwork. It’s not about how much it costs, if you get a feeling from it. It's about the tone it sets for the house." In fact, some of her favorite pieces have unknown artists. This black and white abstract piece, for example, Stephie found at an antique show. It is unsigned, and its origin is unknown, yet it is one of her most cherished pieces. She loves the shapes as well as the composition, which for her is its most important feature.

 

A more recent piece she purchased by Penny Scheerer

Stephanie stresses the benefits of collecting art to anyone. Her advice to the younger generation: buy a piece of artwork every year when you can. It will become so much more meaningful in the future. Even the simplest piece could represent one of the most important moments in your life.