Top of Mind

August 14, 2025

In the art market, there is one coveted position every artist silently competes for, being top of mind. Not just a name whispered in the right circles or a passing feature in a trendy gallery, but a consistent, resonant presence that lingers in the minds of collectors long after they’ve left the exhibition or scrolled past the post. To be top of mind is to occupy a space of relevance, familiarity, and desirability, a psychological real estate where the collector instinctively thinks of you when the urge to acquire strikes.

But this is no accident. Artists don’t arrive at that privileged mental shelf simply by making great work, though that is, of course, the foundation. What truly moves an artist into the upper register of a collector’s consciousness is a cocktail of time, repeated and meaningful exposure, and a commitment to educating and engaging their audience. It’s in the thoughtful newsletter that reveals process, the studio visit that shares vulnerability, the Instagram story that contextualizes a brushstroke or texture. It’s in the quiet, persistent showing up, not just in galleries, but in conversations and spaces where collectors are forming opinions long before they’re writing checks.

Trust, after all, is the currency before currency. When a collector feels like they know you, not just your art, but the intent behind it, the evolution, the narrative, they begin to see you not as a distant talent, but as a known quantity. Someone whose vision they understand. Someone whose success they want to be a part of. And even if they’re not buying today, that relationship is accruing interest in their mind. You are slowly becoming the default. The first name they think of when the walls feel empty or the itch to invest returns.

Being top of mind is not about hype, nor is it about chasing trends. It’s about staying rooted and visible, clear in your message and generous with your journey. It’s about being the artist who lingers in memory and stirs curiosity long after the artwork is no longer in view. Because when the time comes, when the collector is finally ready to bring something new into their world, they won’t reach into the noise. They’ll reach for the artist they already trust. The one who’s been there, consistently, confidently, at the top of their mind.