Next Up Collectors was born out of the desire to broaden the reach of the art industry to young professionals across sectors. Founded in January 2023, the art advisory and members community strives to engage potential new collectors and young professionals through monthly events, speaker series, talks, programming, and more.

Founded by Elise Huff, Next Up Collectors makes an effort to connect the next generation of professionals with emerging artists. Elise brings with her years of work experience within the contemporary art industry, as well as a background in art on the blockchain. Holding a master’s degree in contemporary art, with a focus on Conceptual Art from The Courtauld Institute of Art, Elise brings both an academic approach and professional working knowledge to her advising.

Elise recognized a gap in the marketplace when working for an auction house in New York City several years ago and asked herself — why is the industry not focused on onboarding successful, driven young professionals with the education, interest, and curiosity to possibly want to collect art? How do we shape the future of the art industry to feel more accessible, inclusive, and dynamic for young professionals who feel too intimidated or lack the expertise to become involved?

The platform, along with its membership opportunities, seek to encompass educational aspects, raising awareness of artists and collectors both in their emerging stages, and, in turn, inspire an entire wave of next generation art lovers and patrons.