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Above: Meet the artist tours with Tyler Hobbs by 100c at the Digital Art Mile Basel June 2025

In an era where art collecting is rapidly evolving—from physical galleries to digital wallets—Pauline Foessel, founder of 100 Collectors (100collectors.art), is bringing back what truly matters: meaning, curiosity, and connection. Her invitation-only club unites contemporary and digital art collectors around shared values of integrity and discovery, while helping them engage more deeply with both local art scenes and global innovation. In this interview, Pauline reflects on how collectors and artists can learn from one another, how digital tools are reshaping patronage, and why collecting has always been, at its core, an act of care.

Can you introduce 100 collectors and share the mission behind building this community?

100 collectors was born from a desire to make collecting meaningful again: human, curious, and connected.

It is a private club for contemporary and digital art collectors, where curiosity, education, and access come together. We built it to create real bridges between collectors, artists, and the organizations shaping this new cultural landscape. Our mission is to help collectors grow their knowledge of digital art while also discovering and engaging with their local contemporary art scenes, fostering a deeper connection between the two worlds. We aim to build a trusted community around shared values of curiosity, quality, and integrity. Collecting digital art is not just about technology; it is about culture, relevance, and human connection.

Collecting, Curating & Artists

What makes a digital artwork or artist stand out to you, from both a collecting and curating perspective?

First, I need to be intrigued. It doesn’t have to be aesthetically pleasing, but it must hold my attention. Then I pause to observe and form my own interpretation before diving into the “how” and “why.” What makes an artwork truly stand out is when its concept and execution align, when it offers a twist, a new layer, or a different angle on something familiar. I’m drawn to artists who use technology and treat the medium itself as the message or the medium. When they manipulate data, use code, or systems to reflect on society, they transform technology into a critical language. They also subvert the usual idea of technology as something fast or purely functional: to truly understand their work, you have to slow down, research, and uncover its full spectrum of meaning.

How do you balance supporting emerging voices with featuring more established artists?

Within the club, we are constantly looking at what is being shown by our partners and what we discover in exhibitions, fairs, studios, and on social media. We highlight what we feel is relevant, as we would when curating an exhibition, but the difference is that we do not commission or curate new projects. Instead, we amplify the voices and works we believe deserve to be seen, whether they come from emerging or established artists.

What do you see as the biggest difference between the mindset of a collector and a curator, and where do they overlap?

There is a strong overlap: both share a deep passion for research, discovery, and dialogue. Both spend time reading, seeing works, visiting studios, and engaging with artists. The main difference lies in purpose. Collectors acquire; curators contextualize. A collector seeks to build a collection that reflects their vision and passion, while a curator’s role is to translate an artist’s vision into an experience that connects with an audience. If curators build the narratives that connect art to the public, collectors make those narratives tangible by choosing what to support. Ultimately, both are driven by love for the work and the desire to share it, one through ownership and the other through storytelling.

Community & Ecosystem

What role do you see collectors playing in shaping the future of digital art ecosystems?

It is simple: artists create, but collectors sustain. If we want artists to focus on their practice, we need collectors who believe in them and support them financially. Collectors already shape the art world, but in the digital space, where technology expands what is possible, their role can become even more crucial. We believe that decentralized patronage, enabled by digital collecting, can fundamentally reshape how art ecosystems function and evolve.

How can artists better engage with and grow their collector base today?

It is not easy, but proximity matters. What has been remarkable in the digital art world, and one of the reasons 100 collectors was created, is the direct connection between artists and collectors. Meeting collectors, sharing your story, and creating authentic exchanges is what builds trust. Visibility also matters: being seen and heard, online and offline. Do not wait for a gallery to make things happen: create opportunities, organize group shows with peers, collaborate. As with everything, you often have to start by doing it yourself.

Looking Ahead

What shifts in collecting habits or platforms excite you the most right now?

I love seeing collecting become more community-driven. Art and NFT weeks have turned into moments of communion, where collectors come together to exchange ideas, share discoveries, and celebrate artists. Besides, new smaller events gather collectors around one artist outside of large art fairs and conferences, like the Carnegie Hall performance by a.c.k in New York last month or the opening of Sasha Stiles at MoMA. I am also very excited about platforms like Raster, created by thefunnyguys, one of our supporting collectors. It perfectly captures what I have always dreamed of: a space as an aggregator, where discovery, collecting and curating truly meet.

Where do you see the biggest opportunities for collaboration between collectors and artists in Web3?

I believe artists could rely more on groups of collectors, not to influence their work, but to support it. Collectors can offer funding, visibility, and connections, all while respecting the artist’s integrity. Collectors are eager to contribute meaningfully, and artists have everything to gain from inviting that energy into their ecosystem. In the end, what excites me most is that we are finally seeing collecting return to what it has always meant to be: an act of connection, curiosity, and care.