It's impossible to understate the importance of joy in life. Whatever the source of this joy, it's often the spark that gives life meaning and makes every day fulfilling. For Venus Over Manhattan founder Adam Lindemann, that joy comes from something fundamentally simple: collecting.

The fine art gallery founder and former New York Observer columnist believes everyone can find joy in one or more forms of collecting. However, for the NY native, collecting pieces of art and design serves as his ticket to happiness. Moreover, Lindemann has built a highly successful career from his passion.

In addition to founding Venus Over Manhattan, the veteran art collector and columnist has established himself as a world-renowned arts patron, investment entrepreneur, and tastemaker. The following is a closer look at the nuances and joys of collecting art and other valuables, courtesy of the Manhattan-based subject matter expert.

Provenance and Authenticity
According to New York-based fine art gallery owner and founder Lindemann, successfully collecting art and other valuables lives and dies on provenance and authenticity. It'll come as no surprise to many that provenance—or ownership history—is a huge factor, as is authenticity.

With that, the expert is keen to stress that professional evaluation, provenance research, and sometimes even scientific testing are all potentially vital elements of the most successful collection endeavors.

The resulting reassurance ensures that collectors of art and other valuables can embrace their passions free of much of the worry that may otherwise surround whether or not a particular item is, in fact, genuine. So crucial are provenance and authenticity that these two key factors often rank higher even than condition when looking at the nuances of collecting.

Collectors can often successfully restore and preserve the items they buy. Provenance and authenticity, on the other hand, either check out or don't. As such, new and more experienced collectors overlook these all-important factors at their peril.

Market Trends and Specialization
One might imagine that art and design would be largely unaffected by fluctuating market trends. However, quite the opposite is true, Venus Over Manhattan founder Adam Lindemann reports. For example, art collectors and investors worldwide are increasingly focused on seeking out new talent.

Rather than solely focusing on pieces by renowned artists from the past, many collectors have begun favoring original works with the potential for future profitability. Furthermore, by taking this approach, collectors can explore the aesthetic and emotional value or values of the brand-new pieces that interest them the most.

Elsewhere, specialization is another paramount factor when collecting art, design, and other valuables – not least when done for pleasure. By specializing in a particular type of art or style of design, collectors develop a deep knowledge and an inherent understanding of that area. This is usually an area in which they almost certainly find great joy.

Legality and Conservation
In addition to provenance and authenticity, collectors of art and other valuables must also ensure the legal implications of their purchases and associated actions. Further to having ensured that proper documentation is in place, any dedicated collector must fully understand and appreciate the legalities of their endeavors.

That includes ensuring export, import, and legal paperwork exists, particularly for items crossing international borders. Having ensured the legality of a piece, Adam Lindemann, Venus Over Manhattan founder and former New York Observer columnist, also stresses the utmost importance of conservation and proper storage.

Particularly among older pieces, ongoing conservation efforts prevent deterioration and ensure longevity – central to enjoying the process and its resulting delights, both now and for many years.