Building this AG TrapHaus movement I have numerous things to consider. In refining my goal of making art accessible and using this portal to connect with people seeking first and foremost art as well as community and inspiration, I’m most concerned with broadening the conversation by introducing more than typical voices we’re all so used to hearing.
The actual world of Art is immense. The traditional art world is miniscule in comparison. I'm here to inform people of this fact. Today's short interview is with emerging collector Daniel Hardgrove who stood out to me more than any other person on Threads in the last couple of years. Highly engaged and sincere while building community on the app, with his immediate addressing of my queries about artists he'd collected directly on the timeline, Daniel made it clear he was no engagement farmer toying with undiscovered artists desperate to make a sale.
C. You're probably the first person I've seen online asking to see art who not only collects it but continues awareness campaigns for the artists you engage. How did you come to this approach? It seems genuinely important to you.
DH. God works in wonders. During a meeting at my church we discussed growing in the social media realm. God put the feeling heavy in my heart to get back into social after my years of absence.
I started with IG then onto Threads. I didn’t exactly know what I was going to do on social. However, on Threads I kept seeing art.
I saw a couple art pieces that got something out of me. Feelings and thoughts emerged. Out of something someone else created. Naturally that means I had something to relate to with the artist. Connections were made I value greatly.
However, the art kept coming to my mind. Like when I was in jail with a bunch of store hoarded for myself. I had just discovered my relationship with God in jail 2019/2020. He put it heavy on me to share with my fellow inmates. It is that same feeling that causes me to engage with and support artists.
C. What is challenging about being an emerging art collector in 2026, namely navigating the online world?
DH. The challenge of collecting art in 2026 is learning yourself. If you want to keep those connections with artists I learned it is best to keep it professional. I have tried to be funny or when I get to be an excited dumb*** I say the wrong thing. Art has helped me be as neutral and loving as I have ever been. Find the proper balance of being yourself while being considerate.
Another challenge mainly with online is that artists have to deal with scammers. Your approach and profile as a collector needs to show you are genuine and actually collect and are not a scammer. I see those fake art collectors, they try to show artists a nice buttery biscuit in exchange for their art but they are a moldy core in reality.
C. Do you have any tips for people looking to collect their very first piece of art? Are there any resources you personally use you would like to share?
DH. Years before my art collecting I had watched Sky Arts Portrait and Landscape Artist of the Year. This was a massive seed for my art collecting and learning. Kate Bryant definitely had an impact on me.
Also I used to work in collectables; I worked for a high end coin store years ago. That collector life stuck with me. Getting that experience young was incredibly stressful but I learned an incredible amount. Getting away with learning on someone else’s dollar can be a blessing.
Getting my first piece was one of those ‘I knew I had to have it moments’. I usually collect in this way. I had the experience from the coin store to learn that if you really want something it is okay to think on it but wait too long and someone else will buy it. Sometimes a piece that gets away is a reminder you have good taste.
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Below are a few artists Daniel introduced me to and their work.
Kelsey Critchfield-De Ferrari @kaycritch
J @potato_paints_pokemon
rekoro @rekoro.so
