Artist Glenn Brown discusses his personal art collection in an interview with The Art Newspaper, revealing his first purchase was a 1964 David Hockney drawing of Renée McDougal and his most recent acquisition was a group of Ann Churchill's Daily Drawings from 1974. Brown, who opened The Brown Collection in Marylebone three years ago, is extending its hours during Frieze Week for the exhibition 'Hoi Polloi,' which examines depictions of ordinary people from the 16th century onward. He also has an installation at Gagosian's Frieze Masters booth and a concurrent show at the Freud Museum.
The interview offers rare insight into the collecting habits of a major contemporary artist whose own practice relies on appropriating historical works, underscoring the symbiotic relationship between creating and collecting art. Brown's comments on the environmental impact of art fairs and his preference for keeping works in public museums reflect broader debates within the art world about sustainability and public access, while his collection-turned-museum model highlights a growing trend of artists establishing their own exhibition spaces.