Is it just luck if you get picked up by a collector at your Degree Show? Or do collectors specifically choose which shows to attend, know what they want to buy and how much they want to spend? Do they already have their eyes on particular student artists? Find out directly from British Art collector Chris Ingram about why he started collecting and how he makes his choices.

1. Third Year Degree Show Presentation
University of the Arts London
7 February 2011

2. The Ingram Collection
Overwhelmingly Modern British Art
Started in 2001
350 pieces: drawings, watercolours,
oils, sculpture
Only based on what I like

3. Here Under False Pretences?
I’m heavily focused on collecting MBA
The Art Exchange sees MBA as providing the
roots for much Contemporary Art
I collect some `comfortable’ contemporary
art and some `uncomfortable’ contemporary
art – usually from UAL graduate shows

4. Why?
Indulgence
Raise the profile and status of this
undervalued era
Make `good’ art more accessible
e.g. education; talks

5. Elisabeth Frink (1930 - 1993)
Walking
Madonna, 1981
Bronze with a dark
brown patina

6. Elisabeth Frink (1930 - 1993)
In Memoriam,
1983
Bronze

7. Barbara Hepworth (1903-1975)
Sculpture with
Colour and Strings
Conceived 1939,
cast 1961
Bronze with a light brown
and light green patina
and string

8. Edward Burra (1905-1976)
Ropes and Lorries,
1942-43
Pencil and watercolour

9. Eric Ravilious (1903-1942)
Rye Harbour, 1938
Pencil and watercolour

10. Lynn Chadwick (1914-2003)
Later Alligator,
1961
Iron and composition

11. Tristram Hillier (1905-1983)
Crucifixion, 1984
Oil on canvas

12. John Minton (1917-1957)
The Hop Pickers,
1945
Watercolour, pen,
gouache and chalk

13. C. R. W Nevinson (1889-1946)
A Dawn, 1914
Drypoint

14. Summary of Purchases 2006 – 2010
Artist/Graduate Title & Date
Haroon Mirza Canon Remix, 2006
Truism on a G, 2007
Atlantic Ocean Waterfall, 2007
Stool, 2007
No Smoking, 2007
Alexander Hoda Studwork, 2008
Suki Chan Tomorrow is our Permanent Address, 2008
Interval II, 2009

15. Summary of Purchases 2006 – 2010 (cont.)
Artist/Graduate Title & Date
Sarah Tse My Dear, 2009
Sweet Little Sixteen, 2010 (Collage)
Sweet Little Sixteen, 2010 (Drawing)
Urban Landscape, 2010
Dustin Juengel Trap, 2010
Sooim Jeong Symmetry, 2010
Olympia Polymeni Fallen, 2010

16. Haroon Mirza (b. 1977)
Canon Remix, 2006

17. Truism on a G, 2007

18. Atlantic Ocean
Waterfall, 2007

19. Stool, 2007

20. No Smoking, 2007

21. Alexander Hoda (b. 1980)
Studwork, 2008

22. Suki Chan (b. 1977)
Tomorrow is our Permanent Address, 2008

23. Interval II, 2009

24. Sarah Tse (b. 1985)
Sweet Little
Sixteen, 2010

25. Sweet Little
Sixteen, 2010

26. My Dear, 2009

27. Urban Landscape,
2010

28. Dustin Juengel (b. 1985)
Trap, 2010

29. Sooim Jeong (b. 1983)
Symmetry, 2010

30. You Have My Sympathy!
The talent that came before you was
awesome!
You are under short-term pressure to deliver
You are in a tough, often gimmicky and
cynical market
With an over-production of art students

31. What Do I Look For?
Above all, draughtsmanship (Sarah Tse)
Something that makes me think
Something that I can look at repeatedly and find
something different
Something where you peel off the layers of the onion.
Something disorientating and strange (Haroon Mirza)
But Am I Exhibiting, Curating Or Just Collecting?’

32. My Approach
If I only need to look once, you’ve wasted my time!
Go on, surprise me!” But don’t be shallow
Where’s the new talent? The breakthrough Act
What’s going on there?
A one off show or something that bears repeated
viewing?
Dancing dog syndrome – you marvel that it can dance
but not over how good it is