Art has the power to transform a space, adding personality, meaning and a sense of belonging that no furnishing can replicate. But for many, knowing where to begin—or what to buy next—can be a daunting challenge.
As the founder of Phoenix-based Lisa Sette Gallery, one of Arizona’s leading contemporary art galleries, Lisa Sette has spent more than four decades helping collectors discover artists they love and build collections that feel authentic to their homes and lifestyles. Through her gallery’s adventurous curatorial vision and deep relationships with artists and collectors, she has guided everyone from first-time buyers to seasoned patrons in building distinctive collections.
Below, Sette shares her advice for first-time buyers and experienced collectors alike on finding your taste, collecting with intention and living beautifully with art at home.
AZF: How can first-time collectors begin building a collection?
LS: I recommend visiting galleries and museums often! Give yourself time to discover what you’re naturally drawn to. A meaningful collection grows through curiosity, personal connection and exposure over time.
AZF: Is it important to mix emerging and established artists?
LS: A thoughtful collection often benefits from a balance of emerging and established artists. Emerging artists can bring experimentation, energy and discovery into a collection, while established artists provide historical context and depth.
AZF: What are some common mistakes people make when buying art?
LS: One of the biggest mistakes is focusing too heavily on trends or investment potential. People sometimes forget that collecting is personal. The works you live with every day should feel meaningful to you. Nearly everything I know comes from being around art. It’s a very unique view of the world.
AZF: How can someone discover their personal taste in art?
LS: Personal taste in art often develops naturally through looking, reading, visiting exhibitions and having conversations about art. A good gallery can help guide that process by introducing artists, ideas and connections you may not have otherwise encountered.
AZF: What role does a gallery play for new collectors?
LS: A gallery acts as both a guide and a resource. Beyond introducing artists and artworks, galleries help collectors navigate everything from scale and placement to framing, installation and building a cohesive collection over time. We love visiting people’s homes to see what might work in their personal spaces. Experienced galleries also bring years of research, relationships and context that can help collectors make informed and confident decisions. We’re heading into our 42nd year, and we love helping people connect with the right artwork.
AZF: What makes collecting art rewarding?
LS: Living with art creates an ongoing relationship with creativity, ideas and human experience. The right work can continually reveal something new over time, shaping the atmosphere of a home while reflecting the personality and values of the collector. The most rewarding collections are not built overnight—they evolve alongside the people who live with them.
For over 40 years, Lisa Sette has remained committed to discovering and exposing original, intriguing forms of expression. Lisa Sette Gallery exhibits painting, sculpture, photography, installation and performance pieces from an impressive roster of emerging and established artists, as well as maintaining a clientele of local and international collectors devoted to its founder’s adventurous curatorial vision. By consistently seeking out diverse artists working on the edge of aesthetic, social, and conceptual investigation, Lisa Sette has shaped an art space that remains as vital and relevant today as when it was started in 1985. In a business that can be notoriously difficult and transitory, the gallery has carefully maintained its unique aesthetic vision and refreshingly direct relationships with artists, new and established collectors, designers, public and private corporations, and museums.
Portrait of Lisa Sette with artwork by Xawery Wolski
Lisa Sette Gallery is located at 210 E. Catalina Dr., Phoenix, Ariz., 85012. Learn more at lisasettegallery.com.
