Finding Your Taste (Or, How to Stop Saying “I Don’t Know What I Like”)

There are two types of people in this world: those who confidently look at a work of art and say, “This speaks to me,” and those who look at it like they’re deciphering an ancient code, muttering, “I don”t know what I like.” If you fall into the second category, congratulations—you’re about to escape it.

Taste is cultivated, refined, and, most importantly, owned. The good news? You already have it. You just need to excavate it from beneath the layers of indecision, trends, and the fear of getting it “wrong.”

Exercises to Define Your Aesthetic Preferences

Before we dive into techniques, let’s get one thing straight: you are allowed to like whatever you like. Your taste doesn’t have to be sophisticated, historically significant, or approved by an intimidating gallerist in tortoiseshell glasses. It just has to be yours.

1. The Gut Reaction Test

Go to a museum, gallery, or even an online art platform and scroll fast. Stop at the first piece that grabs your attention—before you have time to intellectualize it. What made you pause? Color? Mood? The way it makes you feel? Repeat this often, and patterns will emerge.

2. The “Yes/No” Game

Open Pinterest, Instagram, or Google Images and search for art in general (e.g., “abstract painting,” “figurative sculpture”). Rapidly save what you like, ignore what you don’t. Then review. Do you notice themes? Do you keep gravitating toward bold colors, quiet neutrals, chaotic lines, or geometric shapes?

3. The Reverse Wish List

Instead of listing what you think you want in art, list what you don’t want. Hate anything with too much red? Not a fan of overly detailed realism? This process can be as clarifying as defining what you love.

4. The Word Association Trick

If your ideal art collection had to be summed up in five adjectives, what would they be? Playful? Moody? Messy? Conceptual? Whatever they are, use them as a filter when you consider new pieces.

The “Phone Album Method” for Organizing What You Like

Now that you’ve started paying attention to what catches your eye, let’s turn this into something useful.

1. Create a Dedicated Photo Album

This is your “taste vault.” Every time you see an artwork that makes you feel something—whether it’s on Instagram, at a friend’s house, or in a hotel lobby—snap a picture and drop it in the album.

2. Tag Your Reactions

In the album’s captions or notes, jot down why you liked each piece. It can be as simple as “love the colors” or “this makes me feel calm.” Over time, you’ll start seeing repetition.

3. Audit the Album Monthly

Once a month, go through your collection and ask yourself: Do I still love this? If something no longer resonates, remove it. This helps refine your taste and ensures that what remains is genuinely you.

4. Use It as a Buying Guide

When you’re ready to purchase art, revisit your album. You’ll have a clear visual map of your preferences, making it much easier to select pieces that truly belong in your space.

Common Mistakes People Make When Choosing Art

Taste isn’t just about what you love; it’s also about avoiding the pitfalls that lead to regret. Here’s where people go wrong:

1. Buying to Impress Rather Than to Connect

If you’re purchasing art because it seems impressive or because you think others will approve, you’re doing it wrong. The only approval that matters is your own.

2. Following Trends Blindly

Sure, that minimalist line drawing is everywhere right now, but does it actually do something for you? Trends come and go. Your taste should outlast them.

3. Overthinking It

Art isn’t a test. There are no right or wrong answers. If you love it, it belongs.

4. Ignoring Scale

A massive artwork that overpowers your space or a tiny one that gets lost on a big wall—both are avoidable mistakes. Measure, plan, and visualize before purchasing.

5. Assuming Expensive = Better

Some of the best art purchases come from emerging artists who haven’t been priced into the stratosphere yet. Good taste is about discernment.

Final Thought: Trust Yourself

If you take away one thing from this, let it be this: your taste is already there. It just needs to be given space to grow. By actively paying attention to what resonates with you, documenting it, and refining it over time, you’ll never again say, “I don’t know what I like.”