Portrait of Christine Mack. Artwork by George Rouy
Courtesy of the artist and Christine Mack. Photo by Pontus Höök
What first drew you to collecting?
I moved to New York when I was 20 to study graphic design at Parsons School of Design. That’s when I fell in love with art—visiting museums, galleries, and being inspired by street art, especially Keith Haring and the graffiti scene. I didn’t start collecting until later, once I began working and earning money. I bought my first painting in 2001 and was instantly hooked—the art bug bit hard!
What is the first artwork you purchased, and do you still have it?
The first piece I ever bought was a painting by Amy Myers. It was quite large and on paper, so I had to have it mounted on a stretched canvas. It’s still one of my favorite works, and it now hangs in the vestibule of my home in the Hamptons.
Interior view of the first artwork Christine Mack purchased in her home in the Hamptons. Artwork by Amy Myers
Courtesy of the artist and Christine Mack
What’s the most recent artwork you’ve added to your collection, and why?
I just discovered the Swedish artist Isak Hall, whose works were on view with CFHILL at Market Art Fair in Stockholm. I added a fantastic painting of his to my collection. I also recently acquired a painting by Danielle McKinney from Marianne Boesky Gallery in New York, along with a fun ceramic sculpture by Sharif Farrag from Jeffrey Deitch in SoHo.
Right now, I’m collaborating with Brooklyn-based artist Austin Lee on a large outdoor sculpture and an equally large painting—both titled Ode—inspired by Matisse’s La Danse. In Austin’s version, the dancers are rendered in different colours to express diversity and shared connection and joy in a time that really needs it. That’s the power of art: creating visual dialogues that resonate with today’s world. These works will be featured in an exhibition this summer that includes around 75 pieces from my personal collection.
Image of Isak Hall and Christine Mack in front of her most recent art purchase by the artist
Courtesy of the artist and Christine Mack
What role does art play in your everyday life?
I live and breathe art. I wake up surrounded by it and go to sleep thinking about it. Through the artist residency I run in Brooklyn—through my foundation, the Mack Art Foundation—I have the opportunity to work closely with international artists who stay for 2–3 months at a time. Being part of their creative journey is by far the most rewarding thing I’ve done, as it brings together my two greatest passions: art and philanthropy.
I understand how vital mentorship and support are for emerging artists, and since art plays such a central role in my life as a collector, offering that support feels not just important, but essential.
One of Christine Mack's most recent art purchase by artist Danielle McKinney
Courtesy of the artist and Christine Mack
Your collection features a wide range of artists. What do you see as the common thread that binds it together?
I tend to collect in themes—there’s definitely a thread, but it’s more emotional than academic. Over the years, I’ve built significant groups within my collection: works by Black artists, female figurative painters, female surrealists, Nordic artists… and lately I’ve been really interested in emerging artists who are merging figurative and abstract approaches. That fusion is really exciting to me right now.
My collection is deeply personal. When I see a piece that sparks something—an emotional or intuitive connection—I want to know everything about the artist. I start researching, following their practice, and if it all resonates, I try to acquire more than one work. That allows me to live with a piece while also having the option to donate or lend one to a museum or show it publicly. It’s important to me that others get to experience the work too, and for the artist, it can be a great way to get more visibility and build their career.
Has your approach to collecting changed over time?
Absolutely. I’ve become more thoughtful and less impulsive. I now look at my collection as a whole—a larger narrative that I’m building over time.
Interior view of Christine Mack in her home in New York. Artwork by Andreas Eriksson
Courtesy of the artist and Christine Mack
As a Swede living in New York—and a founding patron of the Nordic Art and Culture Initiative at the Buffalo AKG Art Museum—what does Nordic art mean to you, and why is this initiative important to you?
Being Swedish but living in New York, I’ve always had one foot in both places. Over the past few years, I’ve become more intentional about collecting Nordic art and supporting Nordic artists. I realised there’s been very limited exposure for them in the U.S.—especially for emerging talent. While many people are familiar with well-known names like Mamma Andersson, Jens Fänge, or Klara Kristalova, there's a much broader and vibrant creative scene in the region. That’s why I make a point to visit art fairs like Market in Stockholm and CHART in Copenhagen—they’re incredible opportunities to discover emerging and Nordic artists that are underrepresented in the US.
Through my residency at the Mack Art Foundation, I’ve had the chance to bring a few Swedish artists to New York, and it’s been incredible to watch how their work connects with the community here. I’d love to build on that and bring even more Nordic voices into the conversation. That’s part of why the Nordic Art and Culture Initiative at the Buffalo AKG is so meaningful to me—it’s about creating more bridges and opening up new platforms for visibility and exchange.
View of ceramic sculpture by Klara Kristalova in Christine Mack's home in New York
Courtesy of the artist and Christine Mack
How do you balance instinct and research when acquiring a work?
I usually follow artists for a while before collecting their work—I like to understand their practice, and I’ll sometimes look into auction records as part of my research. I try to only buy on the primary market, so I have to be ready when the right opportunity comes along.
In the early days, I was more impulsive, but over time I’ve learned to approach collecting with more discipline. I also make sure to let galleries know which artists I’m following, so I stay on their radar when new work becomes available.
Are there particular voices, relationships, or digital channels you rely on?
Over the years, I’ve built close relationships with gallery directors in the U.S. and Europe—they know my collection and understand what I am looking for. Lately, I’ve also been connecting with galleries in Mexico City, Tokyo, and other parts of Asia through International art fairs. I read Cultured, Art Lover, and Galerie regularly and discover a lot of artists through Instagram. I’m always curious and open to new perspectives.
What advice would you give your younger self when you were just starting out?
Be patient. Do your homework. And always trust your gut.
"In the early days, I was more impulsive, but over time I’ve learned to approach collecting with more discipline."
Art Collector and Philantropist
Christine Mack is the founder of the Mack Art Foundation and the non-profit artist-in-residence initiative, The Greenpoint Art Studio.
She serves on the board of the American Friends of Moderna Museet in Stockholm, Sweden, and is a founding patron of the Nordic Art and Culture Initiative at the Buffalo AKG Art Museum.
She is Co-Chair of the Collections Council Committee at the Guggenheim Museum and a member of the Chairman’s Circle at the Studio Museum in Harlem. Christine also sits on the Jewish Museum’s Art Acquisitions Committee.
Additionally, she is the co-founder of Space2Curate, founding chair of Art of City Harvest, and serves as an art advisor to the Art Initiative at the Child Mind Institute.
