In the spotlight of art collectors: an interview with Margo and Jordan Castro

Doodles co-founder Jordan Castro and his wife, artist Margo Castro, moved to Dubai from Miami this year, and soon their Dubai Creek villa and its artwork were enshrined in AD in the Middle East. According to the publication, this creative-minded couple is “at the vanguard of the next generation of art collectors in the Middle East.” They met at an NFT dinner in Dubai. He’s a cryptocurrency specialist whose NFT company launched in 2021 with a collection of 10,000 works by artist Scott Martin (aka Burnt Toast) and has since evolved into a media platform. He is also interested in NFTs, but it is a relatively new voice in the art scene, here because of the fashion. Together they created a collection centered around color, figuration and, as Margo puts it, “crafty kawaii motifs.”

What may be most interesting about the couple’s collection of works is not the dominance of pink or the names in their portfolio (e.g. Damien Hirst), but rather that it began with works bought from friends. Margo and Jordan’s first purchase was a design by Atlanta muralist Greg Mike. From there they collected Martin’s early sketches, and their collection subsequently grew to include digital and traditional contemporary works by a wide range of emerging and established artists such as Felix Treadwell (two works acquired at Phillips and Christie’s), Bibi Lei (acquired at Ross + Kramer Gallery) and Mariam Lamei (acquired during Art Dubai 2024).

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Another noteworthy detail is that the Castro collection is not only built on consensus, but also easy agreement. Like collectors Nacho Polo and Robert Onuska, Margo and Jordan found that they shared a common vision that drew them to works of art with bright colors, fun themes, and an energy that straddled the triple bottom line between street art, cartoons, and fine art. Their growing collection, currently on display at their home in the Deira neighborhood of Dubai Creek, is called: Pinkum Collection. We recently caught up with Jordan and Margo Castro to discuss how they collect, their thoughts on art online, and the artists they think you should know.

First, tell me about your art collection – what was its genesis and are there any themes that have emerged over time?

MARGO: The theme and style of our art, which we call the Pinkum Collection, is constantly evolving as Jordan and I change and grow as people. However, there are several through lines. In the dining rooms, all the furniture, including Bibi Lei, has quite prominent eyes Blooming November 2023Scott Martin To be determined 2023 and Felix Treadwell London Girl 2021 AND Fashionable commute to work 2021. Floating eyes are the signature style of Scott Martin (aka Burnt Toast) and Doodles. It’s almost like all the pieces are looking at each other. We also love adding color to art throughout our home – if I could, I would have a pop of color on every wall! We are not afraid of color and consider ourselves maximalists, in addition to our love of pink, kawaii elements and a fun aesthetic.

The concept of our art and home was born from the idea of ​​”Pinkum” that we created. The happy, fun connotation of this word resonates with us as a couple. In every piece we have, there is at least a little bit of the “Pinkum” element to be found in the color, tone, or attitude of the piece. This is the direction we are currently heading in, but we don’t define ourselves by this particular style. The Pinkum collection is constantly changing, as is our aesthetic as a couple and as individuals.

During our recent trip to Copenhagen, we visited the salon of Danish designer Helle Mardahl, who studied at the same university in London as me (University of the Arts). The designer calls her showroom a “living candy store” and says her work is “inspired by nostalgic childhood memories,” which fits Pinkum’s personality very well.

As much as we enjoy our colorful home in Dubai, we would also like to share Pinkum with a wider audience. I have always been interested in how art is presented in public spaces and redefining the experience of how we perceive art and how art spaces influence us in return. Just like sculpture gardens are open to all, I would like to see the same concept introduced to restaurants, cafes, shopping malls and more in Dubai.

I know you have digital art in your collection – there’s a lot of it. How do you deal with it? How do you present your acquisitions?

JORDAN: When it comes to collecting, we try not to make too much of a distinction between the two. We believe this distinction is important now to raise awareness of a digital art movement that has been around for decades, but once it becomes ubiquitous it will be called simply art. We love having our digital artwork printed and installed. It’s easier for us and the print/paper quality is good for most of the static digital art in our collection. We make animated works that we also display on screens.

MARGO: We have a shared background in web3 that helps us navigate the digital art space. Jordan’s previous efforts as product leader at CryptoKitties and co-founder of Doodles have established him as one of the leading voices in the web3 space. I helped build the creative ecosystem of Palm NFT Studio and the Palm Network, acting as a community connector to bring leading voices and artists to the project. This past experience helps us determine how we collect digital art. One of our NFTs that hangs next to our stairs belongs to Damien Hirst Currencywhich was created by Palm NFT Studio. As Jordan mentioned, some of our most famous digital works of art hang on our walls, but we keep most of them in our digital wallets. We feature our CryptoKitties founder in our foyer due to the personal connection and sentimental value of this art, given Jordan’s involvement in the project and the fact that these are among the first ERC-721 NFTs to ever exist.

Where exactly do NFTs fit into your collecting?

JORDAN: We wouldn’t buy digital art if it wasn’t supported by NFT technology. Before the advent of NFTs, we wouldn’t feel comfortable owning digital art. NFT technology makes it easier for us to secure works of art, track the origins of potential acquisitions and prove that we own them.

It is important to understand that NFTs are based on the technology that enables ownership of digital assets. It also comes with a few extra superpowers that bode well for art collectors.

Margo and I both have experience in web3 and NFTs, so this is a very natural part of our collection. Due to how close we have been to technical innovation, we will continue to collect early examples of digital art as NFTs from artists we like. We’ve selected some of the earliest NFTs ever created, such as the three founding CryptoKitties by artist Guile Twardowski, Hackatao, XCOPY, and early AI artwork from Berk.

Doodles has this super defined aesthetic. To what extent does the art you strive for reflect this specific aesthetic?

JORDAN: I don’t think it plays too much of a role in our aesthetic. I’m not an artist here at Doodles, but there may be a subconscious element to it, which is why our collection is full of colorful and cute works of art. Even CryptoKitties can be included in this field of “cute art”.

MARGO: I’ve been a fan of the “cute” aesthetic for as long as I can remember. I loved (and still love!) characters like Miffy, Moomins, Totoro, Diddl, just to name a few. Doodles are without a doubt my favorite NFT design when it comes to style. Long before Doodles, I was fond of the Chinese painter Liu Ye, known for his bright paintings of childlike female figures. His favorite cartoon character is also Miffy, inspired by the works of Piet Mondrian and Yoshimoto Nara. When I lived in Hong Kong, I had the opportunity to see the amazing works of both Nara and Liu Ye. It definitely influenced me and inspired me to continue to develop my taste in the art world.

Margo, tell me about what you do at the intersection of art and fashion. Has this influenced what you collect?

MARGO: I have a background in fashion and attended the London College of Fashion at the University of the Arts London, and this background plays a role in what we collect. From my first days at fashion university, art and fashion were closely intertwined. One of my earliest memories from this time is Christopher Bailey’s 2016 collection for Burberry, inspired by the work of legendary sculptor Henry Moore. Part of studying fashion was doing visual research and visiting museums and galleries in London. Uni’s designs were inspired by sculptures by Lynda Bengis, Katherina Grosse and Ryo Ikeda, to name a few.

How big a role does consensus play in your collecting? Do you have to agree before something comes to your home?

JORDAN: We’re lucky that we have similar tastes when it comes to art, so it’s not often that we disagree on what to add to our home. It’s usually Margo who provides and suggests that we collect a specific piece. I trust her artistic sense when it comes to what would fit in our space. She spends most of her time searching and reading news from the art market, which keeps her well informed about what is happening. When we travel, museums and art galleries are a big part of our trips, and we often come across something we both love. I’m the one who spends more time on digital art. I love older collections and learning about the historical significance of a given work in the context of the entire web3 space. We are confident in each other’s tastes, so it is rare for either of us to have an extremely negative reaction to a work of art that the other loves.

Finally, what artists are you currently excited to add to your collection and why?

MARGO: When it comes to emerging talent, we are very excited about Vojtech Kovarik. He is a rising international star from the Czech Republic. His large format paintings are mesmerizing – they truly speak to my soul. I recently visited his exhibition at the Kampa Museum in Prague. As a person from the Czech Republic, I believe it is my duty to support Czech talents.

We also follow emerging Chinese painter Ji Xin. His work was born from the search for classic, innocent, delicate and mysterious intricacies. His paintings are clean, feminine and very much in line with my taste.

Hayv Kahraman is another emerging artist we love. She is an Iraqi-American artist whose works are very mystical. Since we are currently working full time in the Middle East, we want to focus on collecting more materials in this region. This philosophy informed our recent acquisition from Leila Heller Gallery – the work of Maryam Lamei Harvani, an Iranian artist. I am intrigued by the intensity of Harvani’s work.

When it comes to more established artists, Liu Ye in particular is on my blue chip wish list. He has been one of my favorite artists for a long time, including: Sanyu and Marie Laurencin.