Starting a Serious Art Collection

"He was a postal worker. She was a librarian. Together they amassed one of the most important contemporary art collections in the world."

This is the teaser for the 2008 film "Herb & Dorothy". This movie tells the story of Herb and Dorothy Vogel, a hardworking, average couple who who filled their one-bedroom New York apartment with more than 4,000 works of art over a 45-year period.

They never spent much on art, they simply bought what they liked from emerging artists you've probably never heard of, such as Pablo Picasso, Roy Lichtenstein, and Christo.

It would be difficult to overemphasize how important and inspiring this movie is. This month we're going to write about how to start an art collection, even if you have a teeny-tiny budget. If that sounds exciting to you, your homework is to rent Herb & Dorothy and get pumped up.

Art Mecca of Charleston is the Lowcountry's home for emerging artists. We have one of the most eclectic galleries in the South, and many of our artists go on to show in museums and notable galleries all over the world. Come in and let us help you start your very own Herb & Dorothy-style collection.