Moti Hasson is an art collector and gallerist in Chelsea, in New York City. His love of art began when he was a child in Tel Aviv, Israel, admiring the work in his aunt’s art studio. After graduating high school, though, Moti served in the army, as is tradition, and, after finishing his service, jumped across the Atlantic and into diamond importing.  Traveling the world for his gig, Moti visited museums around the world, and began personally collecting art. 

Finally, Moti decided that his second half of his life would be spent in the arts, as a gallery owner.  “I felt that as a patron of the arts,” says Moti, “it would be better for me, mentally and emotionally, if I was representing artists versus just collecting them.” The Moti Hasson Gallery has already discovered an artist that was then placed in the Smithsonian.  So we had to play Q&A with Moti and figure out how you could move on from buying Warhol posters.

TN: How did you get into art collecting?
MH: Collecting art is the best addiction to have. I got the bug early on.

TN: Why did you open a gallery, versus curate a museum?
MH: Museums are wonderful institutions, but I love the business aspect of the  gallery world and the chance to represent artists. I consider it my calling.

TN: Do you think your gallery has a special tie to New York City and Chelsea, or is your collection pretty independent of where and when?
MH: The contemporary art world, more than ever, is very international. My choice for Chelsea as our location was based on New York’s Chelsea’s art district being the center of that contemporary art world. We place our artists into the best international collections from here.

TN: What should someone look for when purchasing art? Any special advice when buying art as a gift?
MH: Collecting for the first time can be intimidating. My advice is to buy what you like (since you have to live with the art). If you’re not sure how to start, ask questions and advice from the gallerist or director. If you’re not connecting to the gallerist, find a different gallery.

TN: How do you begin investing in or collecting art? What advice do you have for beginners?
MH: My first purchase was a $400 drawing. At first, focus on a specific medium, whether it’s painting, drawing, photography, etc. After a while you can add different mediums. When you pick an artist you can collect, over time collect a few pieces of that artist’s work. I believe that supporting an artist for the long term is the best way to learn about the artist and the work itself.

TN: You discovered an artist who’s now going to the Smithsonian. What do you look for in art?
MH: Shinique Smith was discovered by the curators of the Studio Museum of Harlem. At the gallery, we recognized her unique approach to making art and moved quickly (you have to move quickly in this business) to sign Shinique on board. With most artists in general, I just follow my instinct. I want to present the world the best in Contemporary art and that is what I do.

TN: Is how you buy for your gallery different from how you shop for your home?
MH: No. I collect all the artists I represent, but I also collect other artists from various galleries around the world.

TN: Should someone think differently about shopping for investment and personal taste/decor, or can the two blend together?
MH: I believe that 80% of art purchases are made for taste or decor reasons, which is great. The 20% who purchase for investment only, buy regularly and buy a lot. They are the ones active in the art fairs, art auctions and donate to museums—it’s a real business.

TN: Any sneak previews you can share with This Next readers?
MH: Shinique Smith is opening at my gallery with a solo show on November 15^th through Decemeber 29^th and following that with a group show opening December 1^st at the New Museum. Both are very big events.

TN: Biggest response a piece of art in your gallery has received?
MH: Tommy Hartung & Rashawn Griffin’s shows this year were very well received. They’re two very young artists and the museums were calling to collect their work.

TN: The product that’s had the biggest influence on your career?
MH: My Blackberry. I can’t understand how anyone did business before the Blackberry.

TN: If you were a product, you’d be a…
MH: Too many to list.

TN: Your favorite product discovery in the last six months… Or something that inspired you?
MH: I saw a show on TV about a guy who decided to clean the rivers of America on his own, one at a time. It was an incredible story.

TN: Most prized possession?
MH: My art collection!

TN: A product love secret you’re too embarrassed to share?
MH: It’s weird how men lose hair on their head and grow it in their ears. Ear/nose hair clippers!

TN: Name an item under your bed.
MH: A Persian rug.

TN: What’s something in your closet that’s not clothing, shoes, bags, etc.?
MH: My abs machine, which is used as small stool.

TN: Fav trend for fall?
MH: Art fairs and art auctions.

TN: Least fav trend for fall?
MH: Rain.

TN: Can’t leave home without my…
MH: Car… I’m not taking the train!

TN: City or suburbs?
MH: Lived in the city for 15 years, now it’s the ‘burbs. We have three little boys, so they need a lot of space. When they go to college, I’m moving back to the city.

TN: Loft or the perfect house with the white picket fence?
MH: House for the next 15 years… Loft later on.

TN: Flip-flops or sneakers?
MH: Definitely sneakers, I hate open-toe shoes.

TN: Coffee or tea?
MH: Espresso, or double macchiato… Only Lavazza!