A Conversation with Lizzie Tisch

Lizzie Tisch started her career in the insurance and banking industries before focusing her efforts in the fashion arena. A member of Vanity Fair’s International Best-Dressed List Hall of Fame and a Contributing Editor to Town & Country, Tisch was a co-founder of the beloved shopping destination, Suite 1521. As a returning member of our Honorary Committee, Lizzie joined us for a rapid-fire round of questions on changes she's seen in the collectible design world, collecting myths, and more.

Salon Art + Design is celebrating its 15th anniversary. What do you think has been the key to the fair's lasting success

The key to Salon’s lasting success is that it has always had a very strong point of view and there is a real sense of discovery. The mix of exhibitors reflects the way people really collect and live today: mixing periods, disciplines and ideas. That combination of quality, curiosity and surprise is what keeps people coming back.

What's the biggest change you've seen in the collectible design world over the past 15 years? And what gives you the most optimism for its future?

The biggest change is that collectible design is no longer treated as secondary to art. The boundaries have really disappeared. Collectors are much more comfortable putting a contemporary painting next to an important piece of 20th-century design, something ancient, or something made last year. I'm optimistic about its future because there is a real appreciation for the handmade and the singular again.

If you could bring home one museum-quality work of art or design, what would it be—and why?

Probably something from Giacometti. I love how the pieces simultaneously feel strong and fragile.

Whose work has had the greatest influence on your eye as a collector?

I’m not sure it’s one person as much as the idea of mixing things that aren’t necessarily supposed to go together. I’ve always been drawn to people who have the confidence to put different periods, materials and points of view in conversation with one another.

What's one piece of advice you'd give someone buying their first significant work of art or design?

Buy what you love—the thing you can't stop thinking about. Not the thing someone tells you is important or that you think you’re supposed to own.

What's one myth about collecting that you'd love to debunk?

That collecting is about knowing what’s “good.” I think it’s really about knowing what you love. You don’t need to be an expert, and you certainly don’t need to follow someone else’s rules. The most interesting collections are deeply personal—they tell you something about the person who put them together.

What do you hope Salon Art + Design is known for 15 years from now?

Fifteen years from now, I hope the fair is still known for discovery. The best fairs introduce you to something you didn’t know you were looking for. Salon has always mixed art and design, established names and new discoveries. I hope it never loses that element of surprise.

What's currently capturing your attention—whether it's a project, a collection, or a new area of interest?

I’ve always been interested in the intersection of fashion design—that’s what fuels my passion for discovery. New ideas, unexpected materials, and fresh perspectives excite me about all creative industries. I’m passionate about finding emerging designers, unique techniques, and the stories behind the person, the objects and the craftsmanship. Right now, I’m looking for something unfamiliar and emotionally compelling.

What's the best exhibition you've seen recently—or one you're especially looking forward to this fall?

I'm really looking forward to the Lichtenstein show at the Whitney and John Legend's original musical, Imitation of Life, at The Shed.

What's one object you wish you'd bought when you had the chance?

Elizabeth Taylor's gold and ivory necklace made from vintage opera tokens...a gift from the famous costume designer Edith Head. It's incredible and I hope it found a good home!