Alyssa Coscarelli | Collector Profile
Alyssa Coscarelli, a digital creator now based in Los Angeles after a decade in New York City, is a former fashion-editor turned freelance creative and consultant. After years working with brands big and small, it was clear that Alyssa's passions lie in supporting and uplifting indie makers, and ensuring her platform was always a place for new discoveries in the worlds of fashion, home, beauty, and beyond. She has recently launched Infinite, a home for limited-edition collaborations with the best emerging designers, curators, and hand-makers you don't know about yet. She resides in Mid-City LA and enjoys surfing in Malibu and cuddling her roommate's dog on her days off. The daily sun reminds her of her home state of Florida. Usually she can be found in her West Hollywood creative studio, capturing creative content, collaborating with brands, and scrolling the web to find the next big thing.
TAPPAN
What is your earliest memory of art, and what led you to start collecting it?
ALYSSA
My earliest memories of art are those of the art in my home growing up, which often had to do with dance (my mother was a professional ballerina), or Italy (where my father is from). I was also really fortunate to always take art classes and workshops growing up and have always had a love for drawing (from cartoons to still-life) and general creativity. It was a natural path to start collecting art, because it's always been a part of my life. I love supporting indie and emerging brands in my work (mostly in fashion + home/lifestyle), and now also love supporting emerging artists through showcasing them in my home or on my social channels. I also view my spaces as an extension of who I am and my personal style, and art is the perfect vehicle for letting your space reflect who you truly are.
TAPPAN
What are some of the most meaningful pieces in your collection?
ALYSSA
I love that my two large Sepideh Isley> pieces have become the centerpieces and anchors of my living room, and I also will never get sick of my commissioned piece from Marleigh Culver in my bedroom, which feels really personal as I was involved in choosing the colors and shapes, and it was one of the first pieces of art in this new chapter of moving to LA.
TAPPAN
What was the first work of art you fell in love with?
ALYSSA
We have a painting in my home that a family friend of ours painted of my late grandfather's homeland back in Italy, and it's always felt so special to my entire family.
Artwork by Sepideh Ilsley
Alyssa Coscarelli says
“I tend to want my art to make a statement and be the conversation starter in the room, and as a writer in a former life, I'm always drawn to word-driven pieces, which Ali does so well. Bonus points if they're a bit clever or tongue-in-cheek.”
TAPPAN
How has the sentimentality of your collection evolved over time?
ALYSSA
Yes, it's great when pieces are sentimental and meaningful in that way, but I think I've also realized (even with tattoos, the art on my body) that you can also be drawn to something for purely aesthetic reasons and it doesn't always have to "mean" so much, if that makes sense. I consider my art collection another reflection of my personal style (which always changes and evolves over time), and sometimes you can like things just... because (as in, maybe without sentimental reasons, but just because you're drawn to the colors or the shapes or the feeling it gives you).
TAPPAN
What is the most recent piece of art you added to your collection and why?
ALYSSA
Ali Beletic's "Party Wave" is my most recent addition, for my creative studio in West Hollywood. I wanted something that was fun and had some personality but also represented creative collaboration since that's such a big part of the chapter I'm in right now (with my new business Infinite where I collaborate with indie brands on limited-edition products), not to mention my love of surfing, and this piece really checked all the boxes for me.
TAPPAN
Is there a particular type of art you collect?
ALYSSA
I tend to like works by emerging female artists because that's what speaks to me most organically and where I can really see myself in the work.
TAPPAN
What has influenced you as a collector?
ALYSSA
I really just go with my gut when it comes to collecting art; I don't think there's a "right" way to do it because it's so personal — and I can't wait to see how my collection grows and evolves as I continue to do so as well.
TAPPAN
Who are some of your all-time favorite artists?
ALYSSA
Hilma af Klint, Matisse, Joan Miró, Rodin, Yayoi Kusama, and so many young, emerging artists I'm discovering every day, like Thai Mainhard, Jean Francoise Le Minh, Sepideh Isley, Ronan Bouroullec, and more.
Artwork by Marleigh Culver
Artwork by Sepideh Ilsley
TAPPAN
How do you go about finding new pieces to expand your personal art collection?
ALYSSA
From flea markets to late night Instagram scrolls, no stone is left unturned when I'm looking for art. I love finding it in unexpected places, like a street vendor or cluttered vintage store or deep on the Internet on a platform I didn't know existed.
TAPPAN
What inspires you to collect the work of emerging artists?
ALYSSA
There's something so satisfying about being able to support a young creative like myself who's paving their own way creatively and just figuring it out and putting beauty out into the world.
TAPPAN
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?
ALYSSA
Your collection should be a reflection of your truest self; listen to your heart and your gut when collecting, but also don't shy away from just simply liking the way something looks, because that counts for something, too.
TAPPAN
Describe your collection in three words.
ALYSSA
Addictive, inspiring, personal.
TAPPAN
Share three people in the creative space who are inspiring you right now.
ALYSSA
Helle Skaarup, Danish designer and artist
Kobe Wagstaff, photographer
Yuhan Wang, designer
