Meet a collector whose journey into art began far from gallery walls, rooted in suburban Ohio, where a quiet but insatiable curiosity about the world beyond first took hold. With a background in international relations and a lifelong love for stories, she has always seen art as a window into cultures, places, and lives vastly different from her own. Now living abroad and slowly turning a long-held dream into reality, she collects with intuition and heart, choosing pieces that speak to her on a deeper level.
In this interview, she reflects on what drew her to Sails in the Sunset by Raya Mansoor, how art helps her process the romance and sacrifice of living far from home, and why her growing collection is ultimately a reflection of the truths that move her.
Tell us a bit about yourself.
I grew up in suburban Ohio in the United States, which isn’t exactly a hub of international culture. Yet since childhood, I’ve been insatiably curious about the rest of the world and the lives of people whose everyday experiences might be completely different from my own. That curiosity led me to art and art history. Art became a window into other cultures, places, and stories beyond the boundaries of my Americana upbringing. I always dreamed of building an art collection of my own someday, and in recent years, I’ve finally started to turn that dream into reality.
If your life had a color palette, what would be the main shades?
Forest green, ruby red, golden yellow, and sea blue.
What drew you to the artwork Sails in the Sunset?
What drew me to Sails in the Sunset might be different from what Raya, the artist, originally intended. On one hand, the piece could reflect a tranquil connection to the sea, perhaps evoking the sense of comfort Raya felt growing up surrounded by bodies of water. But what caught my eye the most in the painting were its streaks of red. It’s as if the painting bleeds, which makes me think about how travel overseas has always come at a cost. In the age of exploration, navigators set out knowing they might never return. And even now, although going abroad can be adventurous, fun, and profoundly expansive… it inevitably comes with sacrifice - of relationships, stability, and sometimes even health. When I discovered this piece, I was living abroad in Southeast Asia. So, even though I do love the sea and feel at peace on a beach, I couldn’t help but project a duality onto the painting: both the romance of leaving home, and the quiet mourning of what gets left behind.
Are you a “fall in love instantly” art collector or a “stare at it for 3 days” kind?
Fall in love instantly. When a piece speaks to me, I don’t question it. I trust my intuition, always.
If you had to pick 3 favourites from here, what would they be?
Besides Sails in the Sunset, here are my favourites:In A Little WhileAraYou, Above All
Any advice for someone looking to start their own art collection?
If something speaks to you, pause and ask yourself: “Can I live without this? Would I regret not physically bringing it into my life?” Your collection should be a reflection of what moves you.
Why would you recommend Oevaali Art Gallery to someone looking for art?
Of course! The pieces at Oevaali Art Gallery are authentic. The artists are kind, talented people. I love the sincerity in both the work and the people behind it.
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As our conversation ends, it’s clear that for her, collecting art is about connection. Each piece reflects where she’s been and what she values, holding stories of home, longing, beauty, and change.
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