Through the Looking Glass

The close entanglement of cultural and financial value warrants a continual reassessment of ownership and stewardship, yet art also exists within economies that are social, symbolic, and affective. “Through the Looking Glass” takes collecting as an anchor point from which to consider access, circulation, care, and commitment. Moving between private collecting, institutional support, and mission-driven philanthropy, the discussion considers how works of art accrue meaning as they pass through different contexts, examining trust as an organizing force within the art world and stewardship as a means of thinking beyond possession alone.