The Art of Collecting: How the Art Market is Changing in Poland. Interview with Katarzyna Rij from Van Rij Gallery

The art market in Poland is changing dynamically - the number of collectors is growing, and collecting is increasingly becoming an expression of prestige and lifestyle. In a conversation with Katarzyna Rij, art dealer, curator and owner of Van Rij Gallery, we look at current trends, collectors' motivations and the future of the young art market. Is art today an investment, an emotional need, or perhaps an element of social identity?

In the conversation with Katarzyna Rij, it is clear that although the Polish art market is developing dynamically, its scale is still small compared to Western standards. The art dealer and owner of Van Rij Gallery points to the growing number of collectors and the gradual formation of a social group for which collecting art is becoming something natural, even prestigious. Although there is no shortage of spectacular purchases and collections built at an express pace, Katarzyna Rij points out that true, conscious collecting requires time – and reflection.

The interview also paints an interesting portrait of the modern collector . As the interviewee notes, the motivations of people investing in art are complex and ambiguous – from the purely aesthetic need to experience beauty , through following trends, to strategic financial decisions. Surprisingly, as many as 24% of collectors admit that the main reason for the purchase is pleasure – they want to have a work of art on the wall that they simply like. The diverse landscape of motivations, increasingly detached from economic aspects, confirms that the Polish market is only just approaching the stage of conscious investment. More behind the scenes and nuances – in the video interview.