“We’re not afraid of colour” – Inside the collection of Tiffany White and Martin Hirst

“We’re not afraid of colour,” Tiff exclaims gesturing to the bold navy wall behind her, filled with vibrant colourful works by Arts Project artists Jacob Cartelli and Julian Martin.

It’s a warm, sunny Friday afternoon when avid Arts Project collectors Tiffany White and Marty Hirst, welcome us into their Heidelberg Heights home to explore their eclectic collection of paintings, drawings, prints and ceramics. The couple, known affectionately in the Arts Project community as ‘Tiff and Marty’, have a unique and idiosyncratic collection of works by the studio’s artists including Mark Smith, Amani Tia, Alan Constable, Ruth Howard, Eden Menta, Matthew Gove, and Fulli Andrinopoulos to name a few. For those who believe there is a story behind every artwork this house is the ultimate library.

Tiff first came across Arts Project while looking for a unique gift for an international delegation, when she was working in local government. She left with the gift, and a beautiful Julian Martin pastel for her own collection. The couple hasn’t looked back since.

A decade later, their home is teeming with memories of the many artworks that they have collected over the years. With great affection, Tiff remembers Arts Project staff delivering a Georgia Szmerling sculpture to her doorstep, just in time for Xmas, during the COVID lockdowns. She tells us of the many “Arts Project” conversations with colleagues and clients sparked by the stunning Jacob Cartelli that sits behind her home office desk and features in every Zoom meeting. Tiff loves the way the painting sits against the coloured wall and how the raised paint captures the light at a certain time of day. “We didn’t measure the painting before we bought it and actually couldn’t get it up our spiral staircase when it arrived here. We ended up tying a big rope around it and hoisting it up over the balcony. It crossed my mind that the Arts Project team would be horrified but thankfully it went without a hitch.”

Another work by Jacob Cartelli, Budgerigars was acquired when Marty bought it at an exhibition, but Tiff wasn’t as drawn to it at first. Later that afternoon Tiff asked Jacob’s younger sister Suzanna which piece was her favourite. Without hesitation she selected the unframed painting from a folio that hadn’t been included in the hang. Tiff changed her mind, the Cartelli family connection sealed the deal. For Marty, the two budgerigars looking at one another seems to conjure a hidden language and, as with almost every piece in their home, the colourful image pops with energy. “The palette never gets muddy with Jacob, his application of colour is so confident – he just gets it so right, even in the way he creates his own grey tones,” Marty adds.

Ten years and 70 plus works later, Tiff joined the APA Foundation and APA Creatives donor program in 2023, deepening her support for Arts Project’s artists and the organisation. “Donating enables the art to happen. There are so many talented artists at the studio that wouldn’t have the opportunity to share their art with the world without the support of Arts Project. We want the organisation to thrive so others can buy and enjoy the work. There’s also a real sense of community at Arts Project, such a vibe and an energy and honesty in the art. We want to be part of that. Artists have to have resources to develop their craft and vision and the artists get the opportunity to develop from emerging to established.”

Marty jumps in: “I was so excited to get an email from Arts Project just today announcing a solo exhibition for Bronwyn Hack at Daine Singer Gallery. I felt genuinely happy for Bronwyn as it recognises her talent and it’s really hard to get a solo exhibition at a commercial gallery. Arts Project is in the business of helping artists to make the transition from having raw talent to making a mature body of work.”

We ask them what drives this passion for Arts Project artists and the organisation, “Because the art is excellent and we support creative excellence. For us it’s about more than just buying the art, we want to see Arts Project thrive for another 50 years and encourage the organisation to take risks and be ambitious for the artists,” Tiff says.

There is no singular style or medium represented in the house of Tiff and Marty. “We’re not minimalist humans”, explains Marty. “We have an antique barley-twist leg table in the room with a 200-year-old Chinese sideboard, a collection of ceramic oyster platters dating back to the 1800s, and Ruth Howard’s contemporary sculpture in front of an ornate gilt mirror.”

The couple respond to each work they encounter with curiosity and a spirit of adventure. Their criteria for adding a piece to their collection is that it must bring joy! Matthew Gove’s marshmallow man ceramic makes them laugh out loud. Or the work must challenge and provoke. Marty is proud to show us a signed Adrian Lazzaro ‘Acknowledge Me’ t-shirt that is framed and hangs near a Raylee-Marie Hart framed t-shirt he bought at a fundraising auction for the Paralympics team competing in the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.

When asked if she had any advice for new collectors Tiff was unequivocal:

As to the question of who is next on their APA artist wish list, Tiff shares how much she enjoyed the works exhibited in the Intimate Imaginaries survey exhibition at TarraWarra Museum of Art. “We were so moved by that show and had a whole new appreciation for Samraing Chea and Cathy Staughton; such strong works, definitely artists we’d like in our collection.” Marty is quick to jump in and add more names to the list as he scrolls the Arts Project website; “Definitely Sam Ashdown and Dionne Canzano – look how great these pieces are!” he enthuses to Tiff, who nods emphatically. Is there any space left to hang more work? Hardly the right question to be asking when the passion runs this deep.