Where are all the Gen Z collectors these days? Last Thursday, May 14th 2026, they were at the Guggenheim celebrating the 30th anniversary of the YCC (Young Collectors Council).
I became aware of the YCC when they brought my work into the Guggenheim collection this year, and I grew very curious about the organization and how it worked.
YCC is often one of the first groups that many young (21 to about 40 to be exact) hopeful future trustees and supporters of the arts join. $1,750 gets you a vote in the annual acquisition process and includes a ticket to the annual party. The money goes directly to the acquisitions budget and immediately impacts the Guggenheim’s collection.
The Young Collectors Party is the annual event celebrating the acquisitions that the YCC made over the year. Over the past 3 decades, the YCC has acquired work from artists like Lucia Hierro, Tommy Kha, Lawrence Abu Hamdan, Yto Barrada, Kevin Beasley, Cao Fei, Matt Saunders, Martine Syms, Jennie C. Jones, Matt Keegan, Josh Kline, Gabriel Orozco, and many others.
Lately, there has been a ton of speculation about the state of the art world: it’s either dead, alive, or some secret third thing, depending on who you ask. There’s been a lot of theorizing about what hypothetical young collectors want, need, or what they’re trying to do in the world. So when I was asked to co-chair this year’s party, I took the chance to ask Gen-Z’s self-described collectors and supporters of the arts what they are buying, what artists they are excited about, and what their vision is for the art world to come.
I had no idea what to expect, but I found myself surprised and impressed by the vision, thoughtfulness, and passion of so many of the young supporters I spoke with. For the first time in a while, I found myself feeling optimistic about the future of the art world.
Read on for interviews with members of the YCC, curators, and artists in attendance.
