How to Start Your Own Art Collection and Shake-Up an Industry, with Kate Hoffman of Spacey Studios

Finding Inspo with Alex Barinka

The world of art collecting hasn't always been welcoming to outsiders, unless you’ve got a fat pocketbook and the right people on your contact list. And it’s been that way for centuries. But today’s guest on Verishop’s shoppable podcast thinks that more people should be able to get their hands on work from notable or up-and-coming artists. That’s why Kate Hoffman started Spacey Studios -- so folks like you and I can get our hands on a piece from a professional artist with the knowledge that the work is significant.

Shop the episode on Verishop with free one-day shipping and free returns. And listen to the episode for a special discount code for first-time customers.

The world of art collecting hasn't always been welcoming to outsiders, unless you’ve got a fat pocketbook and the right people on your contact list. And it’s been that for centuries. But today’s guest on Verishop’s shoppable podcast thinks that more people should be able to get their hands on work from notable or up-and-coming artists. That’s why Kate Hoffman started Spacey Studios -- so folks like you and I can get our hands on a piece from a professional artist with the knowledge that the work is significant.

From the ancient Egyptians to the Italian Renaissance, patrons were instrumental in designating certain artists or work as important. To put it simply: Rich citizens or government officials commissioned or sponsored works of art as a display of wealth or power, and the artist gained in stature.

Then in the past two centuries, the market has largely been controlled by galleries. They function as a discerning middleman, deciding which artists’ work is in vogue, how much the pieces should be worth and whom they choose to sell them to. So if you wanted to start your own unique art collection but didn't know where to start, you're not alone. It’s a world that’s out of reach for most of us.

With Spacey Studios, Kate has been able to take the best parts of the old guard -- an eye for talented artists and a passion for beautiful work -- and combine that with a direct-to-consumer business model that keeps the costs low. So you can get museum-quality, limited-edition art for your home at an accessible price point. And the pieces are stunning.

In an exclusive chat with Verishop's Alex Barinka, Kate opened up about how she used her own frustration when trying to buy art for her home and channeled it into starting Spacey Studios. She'll tell you which of the artists whose work is sold on Verishop has blown up in popularity recently -- with their work selling for tens of thousands of dollars.

And Kate and Alex have a frank conversation about how opaque industries can unfairly disadvantage the under-represented and suppress talented artists and makers.

Listen to the episode, then shop the conversation on Verishop. For more behind-the-scenes content, follow host Alex Barinka on Instagram and Twitter.