Meet the collector: Lusette van der Moolen

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

As a child, my grandmother and I would regularly visit museums in Amsterdam, her favourite being the Stedelijk Museum which is where my fascination with contemporary art started. After high school I went on to study History and was convinced I wanted to become a History teacher.

However, I soon realised that I only liked and engaged in the classes when the professors were talking about art. I decided to drop out and join the Reinwardt Academie to study Cultural Heritage. During my studies we visited many museums, learned a lot about art and art conservation and had the opportunity to do many internships. Since then, I have worked at Moco Museum, Galerie De Ploegh, Ramsay Fairs and Rademakers Gallery.

What is your main motivation to buy art?

I believe in love at first sight when it comes to art. I don’t go to a fair or a gallery intending to buy but sometimes, seeing an artwork, I feel ‘I can’t leave without this’. Sometimes, it’s not love at first sight and it may take several days to decide. However, in general, I am very spontaneous when it comes to buying art.

How many artworks do you have in your art collection?

I own around 50 to 60 artworks, that are all on display in my apartment. You can find artworks everywhere at my place, in the bathroom, hallway, balcony etc. I also have a funny habit of hanging a tiny artwork over each power socket and light switch.

What was the last piece of art that you bought ?

The last artwork that I bought is by an up and coming Dutch artist named Angel-Rose Oedit Doebé which says, “I hope you have the confidence of a mediocre white guy today”.

What kind of works do you feel most attracted to? And how would you describe your collection.

I generally feel attracted to very colourful works, photography, artworks created by young artists and, if the artist happens to be female, that’s even better. Most of the works I own convey a mood or a vibe, which makes me happy. So overall, I would say colourful and eclectic.

Where are your favourite places to see art?

Paris! I went to live and study in Paris for 2 months a few years ago and managed to visit over 60 museums. I loved that they have a mix of big museums and institutions and small, independent art spaces.

I enjoy going to FOAM, the photography museum in Amsterdam as I think their exhibitions have very good storytelling. I also love Galerie de Vis in Harlingen which is run by a female director. They have well curated shows, and you can see that they create long lasting and meaningful relationships with their artists. Another place would be the Fries Museum in Leeuwarden which has beautiful exhibitions which makes every visit special.

Who is your artist crush of the moment?

It has to be Sampat Studio, which is made up of the textile artist Marcos Kueh and interactive/media-designer Isabelle Nair-Lacheta. They have just been signed with Rademakers Gallery. The word “Sampat” in Malaysian is slang to describe someone who is a little crazy, silly or wacky in the head.

At Sampat Studio, Marcos and Isabelle aim to interweave humour into objects that are reflective and meaningful with a Malaysian focus. They create amazing weavings and textile pieces.

Have you bought any works at one of the Affordable Art Fairs?

Yes, I have bought quite a few at Affordable Art Fair in Amsterdam and Brussels. I purchased a beautiful small piece by Annette van Waaijen called ‘The Pool’ from denieuwegalerie. I also have a small painting by Alex Voinea from i le gallery. Another work that I bought at Affordable Art Fair is a photograph taken by the Brussels based artist HASH represented by Art Unity Gallery.

What do you like about Affordable Art Fair?

As a first-time visitor you can assure yourself that you won’t need to ask the gallerist about the prices of the artworks at the fair as each piece has a tag with the details and price of the work. Also, it helps to know that all the artworks are priced under €7,500. When buying a work by an emerging artist at the fair you never know if that artist will blow up in a couple of years. What I like the most about the fair is the casual and accessible vibe as there is music, drinks and food while exploring spectacular art from around the world.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to purchase their first artwork? 

Don’t be shy! Always ask for more information about an artwork that you like. The people working at the galleries in an art fair are always enthusiastic and love to tell you more about their artists’ work. If you’re lucky you might also get the chance to meet the artist themselves at the fair and ask questions about their inspirations and passions. Also, make sure to have a budget set in mind before your visit. If you can’t pay an artwork in one go, don’t hesitate to ask the gallery if they have the option to make a monthly payment. I advise you to do one round, have a drink and then you’ll know which artworks you want to get back to.

A huge thank you to Lusette for letting us get an insight on her beautiful art collection. We hope to welcome you at one of our upcoming fairs.