April 27, 2021

What I Collect and Why with Art Advisor, Daisy Cox

Maddox Art Advisor, Daisy Cox discusses her latest purchase and why she will always regret not buying a Banksy when she had the chance.

Studying History of Art and Fine Art at university, Daisy Cox was enamored by the art world from a young age. Starting her collection with art that had been created by her peers, Cox swiftly expanded her collection after university to encompass both emerging and professional artists. Now working at Maddox Gallery, Cox has merged her love of raw artistic talent with her investment-savvy knowledge, to create an assemblage any young collector would be envious of.

DAISY COX, ART ADVISOR

What was the first work you purchased, and do you still own it?

When I graduated and started working at Maddox, I was lucky enough to have my eyes opened to a world of diverse and talented artists. The first piece I purchased and something that still hangs in my home was a print by The Connor Brothers. I had followed these artists for some time, and I believe that an artist’s story can be just as important as the work they create. Working under a pseudonym, the two brothersblend truth, fiction, emotion and reality - all of which I believe are integral elements to the success of their work. It will always be a piece I have a strong emotional connection with.

THE CONNOR BROTHERS, CALL ME ANYTHING BUT ORDINARY, 2021

What was your most recent purchase and why?

My most recent purchase was A Butterfly Print (NHS Butterfly Print) by Damien Hirst. Hirst had been an artist I had been looking at collecting for a long time. I remember visiting an exhibition at the Saatchi, where I became absorbed by the artist’s reflection on life and death with his formaldehyde pieces, most notably The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living.

The artwork I chose is stunning in its presentation, and not as shocking as Hirst’s preserved animals. However, the concept remains and is cleverly presented in a way that still gives meaning to the aesthetically beautiful image.

DAMIEN HIRST, RAFFLES, 2018

Which works or artists are you hoping to add to your collection this year?

The list is long! It might not be this year, but over the coming years I hope to build and diversify my collection with artworks from both emerging and established artists. In 2021, I would love to buy a Graceland painting. Her distinctive style keeps growing on me and you can’t fail to notice something new every time you look at her work!

After that, Harland Miller is the next big piece I’m aiming for. Miller’s humorous take on the art world, with titles like Fuck Art Let’s Dance, make light of the seriousness of collecting, but produce works that are unmistakably relatable and punchy in their message and finish.

I will also be looking to add a Jerkface artwork to my collection. We will be hosting a solo show with him in June at Maddox Street, and I am excited to see what he produces.

GRACELAND, THE FRUIT OF HELL'S LABOUR, 2021

Is there a work you regret purchasing?

There is nothing I would say I regret purchasing. I have had the privilege of studying the market and being surrounded by people who also look to continuously add to their collections, so I’ve gained an understanding that what I buy is also increasing in value. I believe there is a strong emotional draw when buying an artwork, which means they resonate differently over time and become reminiscent of the reasons you added them to your collection in the first place; how you were living and feeling ‘then'.

What work do you wish you had bought when you had the chance?

The list of pieces I did not purchase is much longer! Banksy is the artist I most regret not buying before his market increased so significantly. Not just because of the incredible value of his work, but also because I love and enjoy his work so much.

I now try to act instinctively when I look at an artwork - if you love it, then act on it.

BANKSY, MORONS, 2007

What advice would you give to a first-time collector?

Follow your heart. My advice to any first-time collector is to buy what they love and what they connect with. It is always a good idea to combine a passion for an artwork with a knowledge of the market. The easiest and most effective way of doing this is to discuss your collection with an advisor you trust and with someone who not only understands your taste, but also the market and what you are looking to achieve in a wider sense.

Are you a big collector of sculpture?

Not yet, but this will come. I have a small Daniel Arsham sculpture, which I love. The next on my list is from one of my favourite artists, Joseph Klibanksy. However, the scale of most of his artworks means I may need to find the space first!

JOSEPH KLIBANSKY, REFLECTIONS OF TRUTH II, 2019

Is there a particular type of art that you love or tend to gravitate towards?

My taste in art is broad and eclectic. Having had a passion for art for as long as I remember and from reading History of Art and Fine Art at university, I find myself obsessing over a renaissance portrait one minute and street art the next.

I’m currently fascinated by art that incorporates text - Basquiat, Richard Prince, The Connor Brothers, Harland Miller, Beau Dunn, to name a few of my favourites. I like the blatant and literal explanation text in art offers, which can simultaneously aid and contradict your understanding of an image. Disruption in art makes it challenging, constantly evolving and always engaging.