Who Is Nina Katschnig—And What Would She Tell You About Growing Your Art Collection?

Walk into Galerie Gugging and you'll feel it—a sense that this place is unlike any other. It's not just the art on the walls, but the philosophy that shapes every corner. Behind this vision is Nina Katschnig, the gallery's director since 2000 and one of the most influential figures in the global Art Brut and self-taught art movement.

Nina isn’t just running a gallery. She’s redefining what it means to collect art with meaning, depth, and emotional power. She’s spent decades elevating artists whose work defies convention, offering collectors a chance to see—and own—art that connects deeply to the human condition.

So who is Nina Katschnig? And what would she say to someone looking to begin, or expand, an art collection today?

From Psychology to Visionary Leadership

Born in Klagenfurt, Austria, Nina studied education and psychology at the Alpen-Adria University Klagenfurt. Her early academic work explored schizophrenia, art, and therapy—and in 1997, it led her to the House of Artists in Maria Gugging. She never left.

Fascinated by the artists and their creations, Nina began what would become her life’s work: building a world where Art Brut and self-taught artists are not only seen but celebrated. She was instrumental in founding the Museum Gugging and the Private Foundation – Artists from Gugging. Today, she leads the gallery with rare dedication, curating major exhibitions, mentoring artists, advising collectors, and speaking globally on the value of authenticity in art.

Her work has earned her high recognition, including the Gold Medal of Honor for Services to the Province of Lower Austria, and roles as curator, juror, lecturer, and international advisor in the arts. But ask her what matters most, and she’ll point to the artists and the collectors who believe in them.

What Nina Wants You to Know About Collecting

Whether you're just starting out or refining a seasoned collection, Nina’s perspective cuts through the noise. Here's what she would tell you:

1. Buy What Moves You—Not What’s Trending

“The most important thing is that you love the artwork,” Nina says. “Buy with your heart.”

It might sound simple, but in a market driven by hype and resale value, this advice is quietly radical. Nina encourages collectors to choose works that evoke emotion, spark curiosity, or feel deeply personal. Because the true value of art isn’t found in price tags or auctions—it’s in the connection you feel when you live with it.

2. Trust the Artist’s Vision

At Gugging, many artists don’t use reference images, and most don’t follow artistic trends. They create out of necessity, intuition, and lived experience. Nina reminds us that this kind of raw creativity often leads to profoundly innovative work. It might not look like what’s in mainstream galleries—but that’s exactly the point.

Collectors who embrace this are rewarded with artwork that’s emotionally rich, intellectually interesting, and visually unlike anything else.

3. Support the Story, Not Just the Object

Every piece at Galerie Gugging has a story—one that often begins in silence, solitude, or resistance. Nina sees collectors not just as buyers, but as stewards of these stories.

By investing in an artist’s work, you’re helping preserve a voice that might otherwise be lost. It’s a form of cultural activism, an affirmation that all forms of creativity deserve space.

4. You Don’t Need to Be an Expert

According to Nina, many new collectors hesitate because they feel unqualified. “You don’t need a degree in art history to connect with a drawing,” she explains. “You just need to look—and trust your response.”

This democratisation of collecting is part of what makes Nina so respected. She opens doors to people who’ve never set foot in a gallery, yet leave with a deeper understanding of themselves and the world.

Why Collect Art Brut and Self-Taught Art?

Because it tells a different story.

Mainstream contemporary art often relies on concept, theory, and spectacle. Art Brut and self-taught works bypass those filters. They show us what creativity looks like when it’s unfiltered, when it’s not designed to impress but to express.

Nina champions this kind of art because it reveals something essential. It reminds us that creativity doesn’t belong only to the trained, the famous, or the institutionally approved. It belongs to anyone with the courage to make something out of their experience.

And for collectors, that means something too. Owning one of these pieces is an act of alignment—with raw emotion, with personal truth, and with an inclusive future for art.

Nina’s Legacy—and Your Opportunity

To walk through an exhibition curated by Nina Katschnig is to feel the power of clarity and conviction. Her selections speak volumes—not only about the artists, but about what she believes art should be: authentic, alive, and human.

Whether you're a new collector looking for your first piece or a seasoned buyer seeking something with lasting resonance, Nina would offer this: trust yourself. Let the art lead you. And know that when you collect with heart, you become part of something much larger than a private collection—you become part of a cultural movement that values expression over convention.

At Galerie Gugging, under Nina’s care, that movement continues to grow. And your collection could be part of its future.