Collector conversations: Nate H.
LL:
Why is it important, to you, to have art in your space?
NH: For me, having my home filled with art is necessary to provide the space with personality, to tell a story, and to make it feel like a true representation of me.
LL: What drew you to Kristi Kohut's artwork?
NH: The very first Instagram sale Liz Lidgett Gallery and Design put on featured four Kristi Kohut prints and that was my introduction to her work. I bought all four prints and have them hung together (below). Kristi often utilizes bright colors and I love the vibrant nature of her work. I tend to keep my wall colors very neutral so that the art pops. I recently moved and had a tall blank wall that was screaming for a large, special piece. I purchased Kristi’s piece Making You Smile (above); it is the perfect piece, the colors jump off the wall and it really does make me smile. This piece receives the most comments and compliments from friends and family.
LL: What types of art do you most enjoy?
NH: I am very appreciative of the art I have that is representative of family and travels. I have a beaded tapestry of the Taj Mahal that my grandfather brought back from India that I had framed when I inherited it. I also have a beautiful large gold and copper platter that my grandparents brought back from a trip from Mexico that I have always hung on the wall since I inherited it. Both my grandparents and parents have made it a tradition to purchase art as a souvenir when traveling, and I have followed in their footsteps. I am also a fan of art that uses bright color to evoke positive feelings.
LL: When did you start collecting original artwork?
NH: I started collecting original pieces as soon as I purchased my first home when I was 22. I was very lucky to have inherited pieces from my grandparents. I also received a cool sculpture my uncle that he purchased from an artist in Orange County, CA that was built from scrap metals—it is very unique and something I still proudly display in my home.
LL: What would be in your ideal art collection? Or, what artists are on your collector’s “wish list”?
NH: In just the last year, since Liz Lidgett Gallery and Design opened a physical location in the East Village, I have bought pieces from Kristi along Ashley Mary , Elisha Sheehan and Olivia Valentine. My ideal collection will continue be represented by a multitude of artists and be of various mediums. I have an appreciation for sculptural pieces and would like to start including more in my collection. I have my eyes set on a couple of Betsy Enzensberger pieces; they are so fun and unexpected! I hope to have Logan Ledford and Angela Chrusciaki Blehmrepresented in my collection in the next year; I love how textural Logan’s pieces are and as with other artists, I am drawn to the colorful nature of both Logan and Angela’s work.
