IN CONVERSATION WITH ART COLLECTORS SHAUNA BENOIT AND RAY WYATT

Shauna Benoit and Ray Wyatt with “In Bloom I” by Abi Salami

Tell us about yourself.

We are long time art lovers and art collectors based in Dallas, Texas.  We always enjoyed seeing the exhibits at our local art museums and galleries. We have been collecting since we were in college, so about 20 years now. We focused on the type of art that mainly poor college kids could afford (i.e. handmade ceramics, small drawings, demo art pieces). Our home is filled with original art, from a side table to paintings on the wall, to even the dishware. Lately our collecting has really been focused on emerging artists working with in figurative and portrait subject matters. Some others in our collection include Riley Holloway, Austin Uzor, Desiree Vaniencia, Tim Okamura, and of course, Abi Salami to name a few.

What attracted you to "In Bloom I" by Abi Salami? 

Shauna: When I first saw Abi post this on Instagram, I squealed. I knew I had to have it. I normally am very cautious when purchasing art and discuss it with Ray before proceeding with any purchase. I had this purchased within 60 seconds of her posting it. This work, although small, fit Abi’s use of surrealism and symbolism that radiates throughout her work. I was really drawn to her use iof the eyes, and her take on beauty. Reminds you to drown out the noise that beauty is only fitting into this small predetermined square. That not fitting into the stereotypical European beauty standards makes one more radiant.

Ray: Shauna texted me while I was at work that she had bought this piece by Abi, and when she sent me a photo of it, I was very happy she didn’t hesitate. I really love Abi’s color palette for this piece and how complex yet simple this piece is. I’ve also been a big fan of Abi’s symbolism throughout all of her work and how it deepens the messaging in each artwork, even before learning the full context behind it. I like that Abi creates art that can be enjoyed for art’s sake without being pretentious.

What tips do you have for new art or emerging art collectors?

Ignore red dots, provenance and all that fluff. Check out local art community centers. Follow the artists you see you love on places like Instagram. Don’t be afraid to schedule studio visits. Get to know the artist. Ask about payment plans. Overall listen to your instincts and buy the work you can’t stop thinking of, not what seems “popular”