Collectors and Connection: Why Stories Matter in Art Purchases

By Sebastien Montel

Art collecting has always been more emotional than transactional. People rarely buy a painting simply because it matches a wall, they buy it because it stirs something within them.

Over time, I’ve come to see that what truly connects a collector to a piece isn’t the subject or technique; it’s the story.

As a contemporary expressionist painter, my goal is to create art that communicates emotion,  to make visible what’s usually hidden. My collectors are drawn not only to color and form, but to the sense of intimacy that exists behind each work. They see a piece not just as decoration, but as a vessel of experience.

When someone purchases a painting, I often share its backstory: what inspired it, the emotional state I was in, or the song that played while I painted it. These stories transform the artwork into something living. They allow the collector to feel part of its journey.

In the Palm Springs and LA art scene, where so many collectors come seeking meaning and escape, I’ve witnessed how powerful these connections can be. People often tell me they chose a particular piece because it reminded them of a moment of resilience, of loss, or of rediscovery. That shared recognition, the sense that an artist’s vulnerability mirrors your own, creates a bond that transcends ownership.

This is the heart of collecting emotional art. It’s about resonance, empathy, and reflection. The painting becomes a mirror, not of the artist’s face, but of the collector’s inner world.

Even color itself carries story. Understanding the psychology of color in art allows me to use tone and shade as emotional language. Warm colors can evoke comfort or intensity; cool colors can suggest detachment or peace. For collectors, these subconscious cues are often what draw them in, even before they understand why.

Modern expressionist art for collectors is not meant to be passively viewed. It asks to be felt, to be lived with. It changes as you change. The story that begins with me continues with them, and through that exchange, the art remains alive.