The common art enthusiast makes sojourns to local galleries to check out new collections. You take art collecting to a new level by doing more than just hitting the nearby gallery scene. You book private aviation charters to find that look you love from a variety of artists or a select few. As you grow your collection, you’ll find that hunting down the perfect pieces becomes an avocation that comes with incomparable social benefits. During your pursuit of art, remember to stay true to your tastes, regardless of what you’re supposed to like or what’s trendy. Doing so is what will make your collection unique.
Florence, Tuscany, Italy
By Steve Hersey
Famous for being the birthplace of the Renaissance, Florence has a legendary artistic heritage. The works of the Renaissance’s forefathers who lived in here inspired have generations of artists and architects. Take a private jet trip to Florence to visit the Galleria dell’Accademia (Academy Gallery), which is home to Michelangelo’s David and pieces owned by the Medici family. While David isn’t for sale, you’ll find artisans still producing traditional wares using techniques perfected hundreds of years ago.
Stop by the Scarpelli Mosaici and I Mosaici di Lastrucci to see some of the finest mosaic stonework in all of Europe. The Firenze Art Gallery features original contemporary art in the form of paintings and sculptures by well-known and emerging Italian artists. At the Art Gallery Studio Iguarnieri, you’ll find original contemporary fresco artwork and enjoy a glass of wine with the artist.
London, England
London’s art scene is as diverse as the city itself. An air charter to this UK hotspot will bring you to over 200 art venues that cater to every taste. If you live for opulence, get artistic inspiration at the Leighton House Museum and Art Gallery. Brace yourself for the exquisite tessellating patterns in the Arab Room and luxe of the Silk Room.
The Halcyon Gallery across from Harrods boasts mesmerizing collections available for purchase by contemporary artists such as Eve Arnold, Wu Ching Ju, Santiago Montogya, Dale Chuhuli and Dashi Namdakov. The gallery also has fine art by Pablo Picasso, Rembrant van Rijn, Salvador Dalí, Andy Worhol, Henri Matisse and more. If you collect photographs, the Print Sales Gallery sells exclusive limited edition exhibits and prints from any of the photographers or collections on display.
San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Mexico
Photo by Jiuguang Wang
A colonial town in the mountains overlooking Mexico City, San Miguel de Allende is Florence’s counterpart in northern Latin America. Hailed as a world-class art colony, the city is where people from all over the world flock to learn how to master their artistic skills in painting, sculpture, ceramics, jewelry making, and stonework, as well as see works by artists who worked in the city, such as Diego Rivera and David Alfaro Siquieros.
Hailed as the top gallery in San Miguel de Allende, Galeria Atotonilco features one of the best Mexican folk art collections in the world. Owner Mayer Shacter selects each piece himself. Inside, you’ll find masks, wooden boxes with intricate inlays, retablos (tablets) depicting saints, hand-woven serapes (rugs) and more. If you’re pressed for time, take a private jet San Miguel de Allende and visit Fabrica La Aurora. The plaza contains dozens of art and antique shops, fine art galleries, studio galleries and textile art galleries.