In Melbourne’s ever-evolving art scene, a new generation of collectors is emerging, driven not by prestige or market trends, but by emotion, intuition, and a deep connection to the works they bring into their homes. Otomys sits down with three such collectors, Pip, Isabella, and Georgia, to learn more about their first purchases, evolving tastes, and the joy of building a personal collection from the ground up. Their stories are as much about art as they are about creating spaces that reflect identity, memory, and aspiration.
May 7, 2025
Related artists
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I. Acquired Work by Isabella — Greg Wood, V18 Day In Day Out, Oil on Linen Board, 41 x 30.5cmII. Acquired Work by Isabella — Greg Wood, V24 Day In Day Out, Oil on Linen Board, 41 x 51cm -
What motivated you to consider buying art for the first time? Was there a specific moment or experience that sparked your interest?PIP: I have always had an interest in art and design - I love taking the time to make my home or space minimal and stylish. My whole family have a strong aptitude for making a house a home, so growing up around this passion really did influence me in the best way.ISABELLA: Having a best friend work in the art industry meant I was always art adjacent, keeping an eye on what she was doing and engaging in exhibitions and familiarising myself within the gallery space. This became the foundation for the eventual moment when we started our art collection.GEORGIA: I’ve never had the eye for beautiful art myself, but I love the unique feeling of elegance that’s experienced in a room with intentional art. I always appreciate when it’s done right, and am in awe by those who naturally piece things together to make a space feel balanced and brilliant. After being in a few places like this, namely the Otomys gallery, I was inspired to invest in something that would elevate my space and give me this feeling in my own home.
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I. Acquired Work by Pip — Simone Boon, The Disquiet in Transience, Limited Edition 5, 55 x 55cmII. Acquired Work by Isabella — Greg Wood, V17 Day In Day Out, Oil on Linen Board, 41 x 30.5cm
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Could you share the story about your first art purchase?PIP: My very first purchase was with Otomys and is a Simone Boon called The Disquiet in Transience. It hangs above my bed and is my favourite part of my room.ISABELLA: Generously, we were gifted some money to purchase artwork as a wedding gift. This then aligned with an invitation to preview an upcoming Greg Wood exhibition, whose work we had admired for a while. Because there were so many works within this catalogue that drew our attention, we decided to invest alongside this gift, to maximise this opportunity. Timing was definitely on our side here, we purchased five works from the preview catalogue, sight unseen, as we were so confident and comfortable with the process being guided by a trusted friend.GEORGIA: After thinking long and hard about my first investment piece, I landed on a Greg Wood. I had browsed the Otomys website for over a year, which lead me to follow a few artists and their journey – I’d watch them release new works that would quickly sell out. Greg Wood’s paintings always made me feel calm and grounded, while also being edgy and interesting. When I saw a piece with warmer tones, I knew I had to get it! I had the support and advice from Hannah in the gallery too, who helped me look at my space and discuss all of the options; as I find styling tricky, being supported and educated on different ways to position the piece was really helpful and comforting.
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I. Acquired Work by Pip— Polly Gilroy, Soft Focus, Silk and Chiffon on Pine, 115 x 150cmII. Acquired Work by Georgia — Greg Wood, V15 I Could Be Anywhere, Oil on Linen Board, 30.5 x 30.5cm
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How do you decide which artists or pieces to invest in? Are there particular styles or themes that resonate with you?PIP: I love a versatile yet minimalist style, so for me it is less about the 'artist' and more about the 'work'. At the moment I am loving Polly Gilroy's Soft Focus.ISABELLA: Greg Wood's work is so imaginative, to me they feel like a true escape. The depth and layering in his works are just mesmerising, they remind me of a fantasy. Yet at the same time they feel realistic enough that they reminded us so much of existing landscapes we have spend fond time in together as a couple. To have his works displayed in our home brings immense pride and joy, for them to be the backdrop to our everyday life is a true delight. They bring a sense of calm and depth which you cannot quite explain, a synergy we welcome greatly in our home.
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I. Acquired Work by Isabella — Greg Wood, V8 Day In Day Out, Oil on Linen Board, 30.5 x 30.5cmII. Acquired Work by Isabella — Greg Wood,V13 Day In Day Out, Oil on Linen Board, 30.5 x 30.5cm
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What advice would you give to other first-time buyers who might be feeling overwhelmed by the art market?PIP: Take your time and ask questions! With the right gallery, personalised support and consideration are essential. Art is a worthwhile investment that really only appreciates, in my view.ISABELLA: I would say that whilst it may feel daunting investing in something that is not so atypical and may seem frivolous to some, art is much more than just the investment behind it. It creates a story within your home and brings life to the space where you spend your time. I couldn’t think of something better to invest money in as you get to enjoy it day in day out. Art is something tangible that adds quality to your life, art elevates the whole experience of a home, working with furniture pieces, natural light and contributing greatly to the feeling of a full home.GEORGIA: Don’t rush it! I took my time, looked at different artists and found the style that I consistently resonated with again and again. I still see artworks that are similar in ways to my Greg Wood and find myself admiring them, reinforcing that this style will be timeless for me. I’d also recommend looking at different ways to position the art – for example in a bedroom versus a dining room; when I purchased my piece I wasn’t sure where I’d be living (and for how long), so versatility was really important. It justified the investment!
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I. Acquired Work by Georgia — Meg Walters, Each October the Man O'War Wash Over Us, Oil, Oil Stick on Linen Canvas, 116 x 96cmII. Acquired Work by Isabella — Sophia Szilagyi, Shifting, Archival Pigment Print, Limited Edition 10, 87 x 95cm
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How do you envisage your collection evolving over the next few years? Are there specific artists, mediums or genres you’re excited to explore?PIP: I love the idea of my collection growing! I would love to own a variety of sculptures, oils and paints from different artists around the world, but am very excited to see what Helen Redmond creates next!ISABELLA: Whilst our collection to date currently has a mixture of oil on linen (Greg Wood) and a pigment print (Sophia Szilagyi). I am very interested in investing in something semi sculptural, a mixed medium type, to create some depth and further interest within our new home. Whilst very different to that we have currently, I feel this would completely compliment our existing collection.GEORGIA: Absolutely! I've recently purchased Each October the Man O'War Wash Over Us by Meg Walters, from her upcoming exhibition Metamorphosis. I hope to slowly add special pieces to my collection that I adore. That’s key – the reason I’ll continue to buy art isn’t to fill a blank space in a room, but instead because I connect with the works. I received this advice from Hannah when I was feeling insecure in my styling abilities – she encouraged me to thoughtfully purchase things that I *really* love, which can only lead me to creating a space that’s gorgeous and meaningful to me!
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