Why the Future of Collecting Lives Between Art and Design

There is a pivotal moment of change taking place in the art market, and New York’s upcoming collaboration between Charles Riva Collection and Carpenters Workshop Gallery finds itself at the center of that movement. According to founder, dealer, and art director Charles Riva, collectors who once separated fine art from design are increasingly viewing both through the same lens. This can create new possibilities for how collections are built and experienced. Riva, whose career spans nearly three decades, has observed this shift across major collecting centers. 

“People respond to environments,” Riva says, “A painter speaks differently when it is placed alongside a remarkable piece of furniture or sculpture. Visitors can immediately understand how these works can live together.”

Pointing to one of the trends shaping today’s market, Riva observes that collectors don’t seek individual acquisitions in isolation. Instead, they are considering how different pieces relate to one another within a home or a larger collection. Presentation, he notes, has become part of the collecting experience itself. 

Riva believes this evolution is particularly visible among younger buyers entering the market through technology, finance, and entrepreneurship. Many, he claims, possess significant purchasing power, yet approach collecting from a different perspective than previous generations. 

“Collectors today want to see a complete vision. Many understand quality immediately, but they appreciate guidance on how different works can interact within a space,” he says. 

Market behavior has also become more selective. According to Riva, confidence remains strong for historically important artists, while enthusiasm for emerging names is accompanied by greater scrutiny. Riva explains, “Collectors are becoming more careful with contemporary discoveries. There is strong interest in new talent, but buyers want to feel confident about what they are acquiring. Historical works continue to attract attention because their significance has already been established.” 

Across international markets, Riva sees similar patterns. American artists, in his view, continue to command interest among global collectors, particularly those with museum recognition and established secondary markets.  He also points to important opportunities among British, German, Italian, Japanese, and Korean artists whose influence continues to grow internationally. 

He points out certain artists of the 20th and 21st centuries who exemplified contemporary arts, spanning Abstract Expressionism, Pop Art, and Post-Conceptualism. In his view, their work remains perennially relevant because they changed the visual language of their respective eras. Their importance, Riva insists, transcends short-term market cycles and ephemeral trends. 

“A truly important artist introduces something new,” he says. “Collectors should always ask whether a work contributes a fresh idea to the history of art.”

Riva approaches acquisitions with the same idea in mind. He rejects the notion of pursuing momentum alone and instead encourages collectors to study cultural impact and original artistic influence. Works that continue to resonate decades after their creation often reveal qualities that fleeting concepts cannot replicate. 

Collectible design has emerged as another area of increasing interest. Riva observes limited-edition furniture and sculptural design pieces attracting collectors who appreciate craftsmanship while also seeking objects that become part of daily life. He explains, “Furniture can carry the same level of artistic ambition as a painting or sculpture. People enjoy living with these works. They become part of the experience of collecting.”

His partnership with Carpenters Workshop Gallery reflects this idea. The forthcoming New York exhibition on Fifth Avenue will place major artworks from the Charles Riva Collection alongside contemporary design pieces, creating a setting that mirrors how many collectors now inhabit their spaces. The upcoming showcase will feature works by artists including Alexander Calder, George Condo, Ed Ruscha, Robert Motherwell, Robert Mapplethorpe, Elizabeth Payton, and Christopher Wool. 

Visitors can expect works that span different generations while sharing a commitment to artistic excellence. “New York remains one of the most important cities for art,” Riva says. “Collectors from around the world come here with curiosity and ambition. It is the ideal place for this exhibition.”

According to Riva, new collectors often focus too heavily on potential financial returns, while experienced collectors understand the importance of living with works they genuinely admire. Moving forward, he believes successful collections will continue to be built through patience, not urgency. He says, “You have to love what you buy. Markets change, tastes evolve, but the strongest collections are built by people who remain committed to the work itself.”

Future opportunities, he believes, will emerge from continued growth in America and Asia, where new generations of collectors are entering the market with global perspectives. He views their curiosity about art, design, and culture as the catalyst for expanding the definition of collecting itself.

“The next decade will be fascinating,” Riva says. “Collectors are becoming more sophisticated. They are thinking about how objects shape an environment and how a collection tells a story over time. That creates exciting possibilities for everyone involved in the art world.”