Collector Series: Ted Elmore

The Creative Habit

Why do people collect art? We have talked with a lot of artists about why they make art and what that work means to them. But collecting art can also be a creative act, when done with thought, curiosity and passion, maybe with a little bit of obsession thrown in. The New York Times art critic Michael Kimmelman wrote that the consolation of art comes in many forms. For some, it is making; for others it is having. I’ve wondered what inspires people to spend time and money filling their homes, and sometimes private galleries and even warehouses, with works of art. Is it prestige? A desire to be a part of a creative endeavor? An effort to engage with a community of artists? Is it an obsession? An investment? Or something else all together? This week, we visited the home of Ted Elmore to talk about what inspires him to collect art. He is a passionate collector of art, mostly the work of Richmond artists. We talked about why he collects.