Dina Kemal Marchant, a Kazakh-born London-based art patron and founder of Stories of Art, discusses her collecting habits in an interview with The Art Newspaper. She describes her first purchase—a rare pair of 17th-century Japanese gold screens, Tales of Genji—and her latest acquisition, a cyber textile by Central Asian artist Almagul Menlibayeva. Marchant also shares her methodical approach to buying art, her regret over not acquiring works by Adrian Ghenie, and her admiration for Marcel Duchamp's Boîte-en-valise. She is a supporter of the Kazakhstan Pavilion at the 61st Venice Biennale and artist residencies at London's Delfina Foundation.
The interview matters because it highlights the growing visibility of Central Asian contemporary art through the lens of a dedicated patron and cultural adviser. Marchant's focus on artists who engage with political, ecological, and historical themes reflects a broader trend in collecting that prioritizes conceptual depth and regional narratives. Her role as a bridge between Kazakhstan and the international art world underscores the importance of diaspora collectors in elevating underrepresented art scenes.