Collector Amitha Raman shares her journey into art collecting, which began with late-night classes at MoMA under art historian Agnes Berecz, where she explored empty galleries after hours. Her first acquisition was Mary Beth Edelson's "Hounds of Hell" (1973), and she now serves as co-chair of MoMA's Young Patrons Council and a member of its Black Arts Council. Raman's collection includes works by Rashid Johnson, Wolfgang Tillmans, Tracey Emin, Jenny Holzer, and Jeffrey Gibson, and she actively loans pieces to major museums worldwide.
Raman's approach to collecting emphasizes community care and supporting women, queer, and BIPOC artists, reflecting a broader shift in patronage toward social responsibility. Her story matters because it illustrates how collectors can use their resources—through loans, studio visits, commissions, and even creating product lines—to amplify emerging artists and foster inclusive art-world networks, challenging traditional notions of collecting as mere acquisition.