What do most of us know about art collecting? Probably not much. It tends to conjure up the same picture: people with deep pockets wandering through galleries, casually raising little wooden paddles to bid on artworks worth more than most of us will earn in years — only to sell it for even more a couple of years later, because at the end of the day, this is all business.

That version certainly exists. Though mostly in the movies, and with very little connection to the reality of art collecting today.

So what does art collecting actually look like? Is it accessible to ordinary people like us, or is it still reserved for those who have already made their fortune?

To help us find out, we spoke to Zina Khair — a Syrian art collector, patron and fashion entrepreneur who was born into a family where art was simply part of everyday life. Today, she is known for building one of the most significant private collections of modern and contemporary Syrian art. Let's step inside her world of collecting — you may come away seeing it differently.

Let's start with the misconception that stops most people before they even begin.

Yes, collecting art requires money — that much is obvious. What tends to put people off are the numbers. And honestly, the headlines don't help. "The global art market was valued at  $57.5 billion in 2024." "Gustav Klimt's Portrait of Elisabeth Lederer sold for $236.4 million, becoming the most expensive artwork sold in 2025." "René Magritte's L'empire des lumières went for $121.16 million in New York." It is hard not to look at those figures and conclude that collecting belongs to an increasingly exclusive world reserved for the ultra-wealthy.

But those headlines don't tell the whole story. While the top end of the market has softened, the accessible end is gaining momentum. Smaller dealers recorded 17% sales growth, auction sales below $5,000 increased, and the total number of transactions rose 3% to $40.5 million, suggesting that more people are buying art, even if they are spending less on each purchase. In other words, while the biggest sales still account for much of the market's value, growth is increasingly being driven by thousands of smaller purchases.

Now, you might still be thinking: okay, but even a few thousand dollars feels like a stretch, especially if you have never bought art before. Fair enough. But there is an answer to that as well.

Platforms like Artsy — one of the world's largest online art marketplaces, connecting buyers with more than 4,000 galleries, hundreds of museums, and major international art fairs — regularly curate collections titled "Art Under $1,000", positioning them as an entry point for first-time collectors. Then there is Artfinder, a UK-based marketplace connecting independent artists from more than 100 countries directly with buyers, where dedicated sections feature thousands of works priced under £500 and under £1,000.

The infrastructure for accessible collecting already exists, and the market is already moving in that direction. The idea that you need a fortune to start is less a fact and more a headline we have all grown used to believing.

The older we get, the easier it becomes to assume that certain things simply aren't for us unless we have been at them since childhood. Art is no exception. We tend to believe you are either born with "good taste" — that instinctive eye for art — or you aren't. No middle ground, no room to learn. But it turns out that isn't really how it works at all.

The takeaway? Train your eye

And the good news is that this is a skill almost anyone can develop, whether you are 20, 35 or 50. In fact, the art world isn't the only place that believes in the power of looking. Medical schools are increasingly taking students and doctors into museums, not to study art history, but to sharpen their observation skills. Research has shown that regularly analysing artworks improves observation and attention to detail, proving that "training your eye" isn't simply an art-world cliché. It is recognised as a genuine cognitive skill.

Interestingly, there is another figure worth remembering: six months to a year. According to the Art Advisory team at Citi Wealth, that is often the ideal amount of time to spend simply looking, learning and developing your eye before making your first meaningful art purchase. In other words, the first investment in collecting isn't money — it is time.

We started this article with auction rooms, wooden paddles and fierce bidding wars. So, are auctions genuinely part of the art world, or are they mostly a Hollywood fantasy?

The answer is simple: they absolutely exist, and remain a proper fixture of the art market — accounting for around 40% of its global value. But they are only one act in a rather longer play.

The crucial distinction lies in the type of market. Auctions operate within the secondary market, where artworks that have already changed hands once are shuffled along to their next owner. Galleries and artists' studios, by contrast, make up the primary market, where works are sold for the first time and the money goes straight into the artist's pocket. According to the latest Art Basel and UBS survey, 83% of collectors buy from galleries or dealers, making them both the most commonly used buying channel and where collectors part with the largest share of their budgets.

Art fairs add another layer to the story. These days, around 35% of gallery sales happen at these events, and it is easy to see why. Rather than trailing round one gallery at a time, collectors can explore dozens — sometimes hundreds — under one roof, compare artists side by side and stumble across names they might never have crossed paths with otherwise.

But that is the theory, without a single proper name attached to it. The practical wisdom — the sort you can actually put to use — comes from someone who is a true expert in the field: Zina Khair.

And what about online?

I won't give you advice on whether it is the right place to search for the next painting for your wall. What I can tell you is that if you are planning to join the people buying art online, you certainly won't be alone. Dealers now make 22% of their total sales online, compared with just 13% before the pandemic. So, where should you start looking?

So, let's say you have already overcome the biggest hurdle. You know you don't need to be a millionaire to start collecting. You have accepted that training your eye comes before buying, so your next few weekends are already booked with gallery visits and exhibitions, and you even know where to look for artworks when you're ready to acquire your first piece.

But another question quickly follows: how do you know when a collection becomes a collection, rather than simply a group of unrelated artworks?

According to Zina Khair, there are no fixed rules. Instead, there are three principles worth keeping in mind.

1. Build a collection that reflects you, not the trends

Some collectors focus on a single artist, movement, region or period. Others embrace a more eclectic approach. Neither is inherently better.

2. Don't let investment become the main reason you buy

Understanding the market is valuable, but chasing returns alone rarely leads to a satisfying collection.

3. Look beyond the price tag