Interview with Collector ThreadBear | MakersPlace Blog

ThreadBear is among MakersPlace’s most passionate collectors. He got his start collecting NFTs during the pandemic lockdown, and found not just “something to do,” but also commiserating, life-affirming pursuit. With each new piece added to his collection, he gained emotional ballast against the storms blowing across the globe.

We interviewed ThreadBear ahead of his curatorial debut to learn more about his motivations behind collecting and what excites him in the world of art.

MP: How did you start collecting art? What is the main motivation behind your collecting?

TB: Well, I don’t really consider myself a collector, to be honest. Although it does sound a bit strange because I’ve amassed quite a bit over the last couple of years. But I guess I’ve always really been interested in art. I used to dabble when I was younger, but I’ve never really been that good. So I’ve always been keen to see what others can produce and have just been amazed at what the human imagination can conjure up. 

As a child, my parents used to take us to the National Gallery in London. I’ve always had a love for classical art, especially Pre-Raphaelite, that kind of era. Canaletto is another one of my favorites. 

As far as NFTs are concerned, over the last few years, with lockdown, I found that art brought a sense of comfort, solace, and peace. It’s something that lets you escape the world in a way. 

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MP: Do you have a physical art collection, or is it primarily NFTs?

TB: It’s primarily NFTs. Though I own a couple of pieces by the American artist Thomas Blackshear II, and I’d say they’re probably the pieces I prefer the most. 

MP: What was the first NFT you bought?

TB: I don’t exactly know the first one. There’s a portrait photographer called William Barrington-Binns, and I’ve found a lot of his work quite pleasing to the eye. So I’ve bought a few of his pieces, and I have actually reached out to him. We’ve been in conversation and discussed some of the pieces, the situation surrounding how the creations were made, his motivations, and that kind of thing. 

Some other great artists, like Gala Mirissa and Dunja Jung. I think that for me it’s about faces and portraits. I like the sense of emotion, and what the image is telling you. the story behind it, the human expression.

MP: How important is it for you to meet the artists who created the artwork? Or, put another way, do you often form relationships with the artists you collect?

TB: Yes, to a degree. But normally, it’s just about observing the art and whether it makes a connection. I have reached out to artists to ask about the motivation behind the artwork. 

And there are a couple of pieces that I’ve seen where you can sense that the artist is…