Ali LaBelle | Collector Profile

Ali LaBelle

"Kay" by Danny Scott Lane

“Just like shopping small or buying local, collecting the work of an emerging artist means so much to the person behind the work.”

“I’ve never seen anything like Chala Topraks ceramic sculptures—they look like something you’d find under the sea. You can almost see the petals moving, each one with its own unique gesture. I had a hard time picking a favorite of hers.”

On Chala Toprak's Wild Petals N. 3

“I like a lot of Danny Scott Lane’s work. His photographs are so cinematic; I can almost imagine what music would be playing in the moment they were captured. Kay feels like it could be a still from a French film in the 60s.”

On Danny Scott Lane's Kay

“Something about Gia Coppola’s “Rolling Hills Estate” series feels so familiar. Living in LA I often see these incredible old homes that are filled with treasures collected over decades, but rarely do I get to peek inside. This series feels like an intimate portrait of the woman who lives here.”

On Gia Coppola's Mr. Larry

“Marleigh’s work is so special. I’m lucky to call her a friend and have watched her grow and evolve as an artist over a decade, and I think her latest collection is some of her best yet. Part of the magic of Paradise and her pieces like it is in the process; Marleigh shares glimpses of herself painting on TikTok, and there's an ease and meditative quality to it that you can see in the work itself.”

On Marleigh Culver's Paradise

“All of Leigh Wells’ collage works are stunning; they’re as delicately composed as the sculptural Ikebana pieces themselves. I love that they’re a little disorienting but maintain the beauty of the original floral arrangements.”

On Leigh Wells' Versos 10-03-06

Q&A:

Why would you recommend Tappan to someone looking for art?

The fine art world feels so off-limits to most people. Walking into a gallery is so incredibly intimidating, and the process of acquiring an original work from an artist is not transparent in the slightest. Tappan makes discovering new artists, sifting through their work, and understanding the process of buying art clear and approachable, something that anyone at any point in their collecting journey can experience without fear of judgment.

What inspires you to collect the work of emerging artists?

Just like shopping small or buying local, collecting the work of an emerging artist means so much to the person behind the work. It’s also usually sold at a more accessible price point, too, so it’s sort of like the collector and artist are supporting each other, in a way.

What is your earliest memory of art, and what led you to start collecting it?

My grandpa was a really talented artist; he was a creative director, like me, but he also used to paint and write music and do a million other things that just came naturally to him. When I was a kid I’d stare at this painting in his foyer called Joe’s Cafe that he made a long time ago—maybe in the ‘60s?—of a street corner in London. The buildings are made up of a bunch of mosaiced bits of color, sort of like a patchwork quilt, and I’ve always just really loved it. Joe’s Cafe has hung in my own home since he passed, and I sit across from it at my desk every day. It’s such a good example of how emotionally connected we can be to art, and I try to remember and prioritize that feeling as I build my collection.

How has the sentimentality of your collection evolved over time?

As I get older, I care less about filling wall space and more about displaying things that mean something to me. Most of my collection is made up of artworks by my talented friends (like Marleigh Culver!), vintage pieces I find online or at estate sales, and works that have been given to me by family and friends. I love to be able to look at the art on my walls and think of the friend who made it, or the person who might have owned it before me, or the trip I was on when I found it.

Is there a particular type of art you collect?

My collection includes paintings, photographs, drawings, and art objects.

Where and when do you feel the most creative?

At home. I’m a big believer in filling your well of inspiration with travel, trips to museums and galleries, and experiences out in the world, but I feel most at ease with my creativity when I’m in my home and able to digest the things that are inspiring me in that moment.

Where do you draw inspiration from?

I love ephemera—old packaging and bits of print materials that were meant to be thrown away. I keep a bin of reference materials in a closet that’s filled with ticket stubs, postcards, pamphlets, coasters, matchbooks, food wrappers, and stationery that I’ve collected over years and years.

For new collectors, do you have any advice you wish to impart? Do you have a collecting ethos or philosophy that you want to share?

My advice is to buy art with a collector’s mindset, not a decorator’s mindset. I think the most interesting spaces are the ones filled with artworks that surprise me, things that mean something to the person who lives there, and not the ones where the artwork perfectly matches the color of the sofa. I also wouldn’t worry about all of the art in your collection feeling like it “matches” or feels “cohesive”—the art in your home can speak to the many parts of you, and your collection should feel as dynamic and nuanced as you are.

Describe your collection in three words.

Simple, sentimental, feminine.

Share three people in the creative space who are inspiring you right now.

I’m always inspired by everything Emily Adams Bode Aujla is up to via her brand Bode. I really appreciate her commitment to understanding the context of the vintage textiles and treatments that inspire her designs and how she weaves narratives across art, fashion, and her own family history to tell a unique story.

Jalil Johnson is an up-and-coming stylist and fashion writer whose style I love. I recently interviewed Jalil for my newsletter, À La Carte, and really connected with his approach to finding one’s personal style: “When you’re figuring out your personal style or stepping out of your comfort zone, you have to get comfortable with being uncomfortable. Personal style is really a matter of trial and error. Unless you’re truly willing to experiment and occasionally look a little wacky, how will you ever discover what does and doesn’t work for you?” I think it’s great advice that applies beyond fashion.

Laila Gohar is another person I look to for inspiration. An artist, writer, and co-founder of Gohar World, Laila’s work sits at the intersection of art and play, which is my favorite place to be. I draw a lot of inspiration from her whimsical, surrealist, artful approach in everything she does.