Conspicuous taste: the art of collecting

Collector and CEO of Global Street Art, Lee Bofkin believes the value of collecting lies not in money, but in taste, knowledge and time.

23 April 2026

2 mins read

Conspicuous taste: the art of collecting — Image: Lee Bofkin’s collection reflects a century of visual culture

Lee Bofkin is arguably among Britain’s most prolific private collectors.

His London studio contains more than 100,000 objects – fragments of advertising history, packaging, postcards, badges and ephemera spanning more than a century, assembled over decades of collecting.

When asked which piece matters most, Bofkin chooses a small Limoges brooch he recovered while mudlarking on the banks of the River Thames. “You can see this has been in the Thames for more than 100 years,” he says, “It represents the time, effort, care, curation and skill that’s gone into this whole project.”

Mural by Navinder Nangla in Shoreditch London, depicting a person holding a Wedgwood plate. — **Classic with a twist** A mural for iconic British brand Wedgwood by Navinder Nangla

The art of collecting

Enthusiasm for collecting continues, but it’s shifted towards more esoteric objects whose value lies in knowledge, rarity and personal meaning.

For Bofkin, there is an important difference between accumulating and collecting: while the former displays wealth, the latter signals something more culturally important. “Collecting is not conspicuous consumption – it’s conspicuous taste,” he says. “People want to demonstrate luxury as a sense of taste.”

Collecting is ultimately an act of preservation. “The reason this stuff is so valuable is that money can’t buy it,” Bofkin adds. “Only time can.”

The next wave of luxury collectibles

We asked a panel of market specialists for their picks of the assets gaining traction.

Vintage haute couture and designer accessories

Dana Auslander, founder, LUXUS

Investment-grade fashion is going mainstream. The category also brings more female-led demand into a market historically dominated by watches and cars.

Prints and editions

Sheena Carrington, Market Editor, MyArtBroker

Editions circulate more frequently, allowing price discovery and broader participation, creating a more transparent and active secondary market.

South Asian modern and contemporary art

Anders Petterson, CEO and founder, ArtTactic

This market is expanding rapidly, with Indian modernists achieving global recognition. Pricing sits below Western equivalents, suggesting further room for growth.

“Poster cars” and race winners

Dietrich Hatlapa, founder, Historic Automobile Group International

“Poster cars” and rare-specification vehicles are increasingly scarce. Over time, untouched examples become rarer than restored cars, underpinning value.

Certified pre-owned luxury watches

Hamza Masood, Head of Partnerships, WatchCharts

Brand-backed resale is reshaping the market. Rolex and Vacheron Constantin are formalising the secondary segment, improving trust and price stability.