The collection of Bronwyn Hunter-Shortly
A collection of carefully curated artist editions
I think every art collector has a tight circle of people they turn to for second opinions. Bronwyn Hunter-Shortly is one of those people for me—I trust her taste explicitly.
While Bronwyn has an extensive history in the art market—from blue-chip galleries to art appraisal and advisory to art tech—she also has a great knack for collecting art at little to no cost. In addition to Bronwyn’s collection of paintings and photographs, she has a secondary collection that depends on art knowledge, keeping up to date, and being in the right place. The result is a collection of ephemera displayed charmingly throughout the loft she shares with her husband and newborn daughter. A pile of various Felix Gonzales-Torres candies in a pile, and a stack of Marcela Sinclair rocks are displayed on a bookcase.
Bronwyn’s collecting habits have rubbed off on me; I now always take a poster or candy when offered to add to the collection. Bronwyn helped me redefine what it means to be a collector: it doesn’t have to cost a lot of money; it can be about collecting experiences. Last year, I was on vacation when the Globe & Mail ran a special insert in collaboration with Moyra Davey, inspired by Bronwyn’s collecting tenacity; I sent my mom (thank you!) out to grab a copy. The newspaper version of Davey’s photograph is now pinned next to my desk.
From Ai Weiwei’s sunflower seeds (free to take) to Barbara Kruger’s MetroCards (free to buy if you’re willing to try a few different stations), Bronwyn’s collection is enviable, creative, and achievable—if you’re willing to put in the work.
What do you collect?
I love, love, love collecting paintings and photographs. However, I have a fun subset of my collection composed of all sorts of editions (prints, sculptures, posters, magazine covers, etc.) by ultra-contemporary artists. With editioned work, I like to chase more notable names. In contrast, when seeking out original works to collect, I love discovering newer voices.
In terms of non-art-related collecting, I also have a new baby and have been collecting Jellycat stuffed animals on her behalf—they are insanely cute.
When did your collection habits begin?
I specifically remember when I was little, my mom urged me to collect something—charms, porcelain boxes, anything. She felt it was a great way to always have a reminder of a moment in time—a trip, a birthday—and I never decided what to collect. Flash forward to today, I pretty much hoard contemporary art.
I started by getting whatever I could get my hands on, anything by someone I was studying or admired, for under $500. This was a fun challenge that created the confidence required to acquire less budget-friendly original paintings.
During the summers between my university years, I lived and interned in New York City. The first summer I worked at the Lower East Side Printshop which really opened my eyes to the idea of prints. It was so amazing to see artists creating works at much more affordable price points than their originals.
From there I became hooked on finding creative editioned works. Living in New York, a city with never-ending art-related things to do, I was able to follow along with what was happening in the art world and immediately hop on a subway car to grab a limited run of a New York Magazine cover by Kerry James Marshall (though I was in working at the hour of release so I sent my now husband on that goose chase) or a few Barbara Kruger designed metro cards.
Do you have any rules for collecting?
I think it’s super important that what you collect brings you joy at that moment in time. It’s okay to look back and occasionally cringe at what you’ve acquired because your collection tells a story of growth and provides a snapshot of what you were excited about at that moment in time.
I also think it's important to trust your gut and take risks. If you like something, go for it. There is no "right" way to collect, even though it may feel like there is—taking a risk on an artist or artwork is all part of the fun.
Describe your process of collecting—from searching to acquisition.
With contemporary art, you are constantly learning, and the whole world can change from month to month, so it’s important to stay in the loop. I tend to subscribe to every newsletter or mailing list available and follow almost exclusively art-related accounts on Instagram.
After my digital research, I like to see as much art in person as possible—especially by people I don’t know. Once I’ve seen a work in person, it becomes a bit encyclopedic, so I can pounce on any opportunities to acquire things I’m drawn to.
With editions, specifically, the digital resources are key—you can come across different artists you are following doing cool pop-ups or releases and put them immediately in your calendar. For example, there was an amazing exhibition called “Take Me (I’m Yours)” in 2016 at the Jewish Museum in New York, and the whole premise was to take a little piece of each installation home with you.
Also, I often check in on charity auctions and non-profit organizations as they are great places to find more affordable works or cool one-time collaborations. I’ve acquired some great stuff from various organizations, and it’s an added benefit that the price paid also supports a good cause.
A Spotlight on Bronwyn’s Collection
Felix Gonzalez-Torres, in conjunction with Christopher Wool
This piece is one of my favourites of all time. It has instantly recognizable Christopher Wool text printed on an emblematic Félix González-Torres paper stack.
I found this after university while nannying for a family in Luxembourg. It’s a tiny town, so I went to the Mudam Contemporary Art Museum constantly, and on my visit, I found a small stack of paper with bold text. I knew from my art history classes that you were allowed to take sheets from Félix González-Torres’ stacks, but I double-checked with the guard, who confirmed that was the case and took two sheets. I folded them (eek) and put them in my suitcase.
One of the copies has since hung in my Toronto apartment with my roommates, my New York shoebox and today (finally framed) in my Toronto apartment with my husband. I’ve also paired it with a little bowl filled with the Felix Gonzales-Torres candies I’ve collected from his various installations.
Marcela Sinclair
So this one was also free, but I may have stolen it (I know others have as well )
One year during Art Basel Miami Art Week, thousands of small fluorescent rocks mimicking Ugo Rondinone's Miami Mountain were spread across the grass around it outside The Bass Museum. Waiting for a party one night, I slipped my own mountain arrangement into my purse. I live with the rocks to this day, and whenever I look at the arrangement, I'm tempted to laugh a little.
When first answering this question, I assumed they were by Rondinone himself; however, after a little more research, I discovered they were actually an intervention by Marcela Sinclair. This just goes to show collecting art is filled with endless surprises!
Jonathan Monk
I love my Jonathan Monk restaurant drawing. Monk creates little sketches on his meal receipts and sells them on his Instagram for the price of the meal. The sketches are also great for art history nerds like me because they usually feature mini “copies” of other artworks like Andy Warhol or Damien Hirst.
I got a little impatient on Instagram and went directly to his gallery during an art fair to acquire my Restaurant Drawing, but I know others who have been chosen to receive the work via his Instagram! Mine is a little Sol Lewitt wall drawing watercolor.
To get super meta and nerdy here, I love my drawing so much that I also purchased a work by art-world prankster Eric Doeringer. Doeringer makes replicas of famous works and happens to make a few Restaurant Drawings a la Monk as well.
This one is particularly fun, as the series still exists today, and anyone reading it can get a chance at getting similar work.
Bronwyn writes a thoughtful monthly newsletter with art market insights that you can follow here:
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Always love chatting art with you Tatum 💗
Loved it!