Every meaningful art collection begins with a spark of curiosity. For Teroxx founder and CEO Christoph Pliessnig and Creative Director Julian Arnold, collecting is less about ownership than dialogue – an ongoing exchange with artists, ideas and the emotions that linger long after first encounter. Guided by instinct rather than strategy, their collection brings together contemporary works that challenge, surprise and inspire. Built through chance meetings, lasting relationships and a shared fascination with the space between certainty and possibility, it reflects a belief that art is not merely something to acquire but something to live with.
In this conversation, they discuss the stories behind their collection, the artists who have shaped their journey and why art remains one of life's most meaningful investments.
What inspired you to start collecting art?
Christoph Pliessnig: It began as a dialogue, the same sustaining exchange that nourishes great partnerships and enduring friendships. We collect to converse with ideas: an artist's statement, a spark of concept, a line of thought we can live with on our walls, revisit and rethink. Collecting, for us, is an ongoing intellectual and emotional conversation between ourselves, the work, and its makers.
Do you have a specific theme or focus in your collection?
Julian Arnold: We are drawn to contemporary work and remain open to surprise. Both Chris and I are captivated by the tension of opposites, in colour, texture and thought. The liminal space between certainties; the moment of transcendence just before resolution.
How do you choose the artists and pieces you collect?
Christoph Pliessnig: It is always a matter of curiosity and resonance. We encounter artists at dinners, openings and through gallery introductions that open entirely new worlds. Meeting Christiane Peschek at a dinner in Vienna, discovering Flora Hauser through an unhurried conversation with a gallerist, connecting with Adrian Buschmann while showing his work in our gallery. Each encounter has been its own education.
How do you balance established artists with emerging talents?
Julian Arnold: We follow instinct before strategy. Collecting, at its core, is a pleasure. We marry the careful curation of assets with experiential worlds, acknowledging what history has always confirmed: art needs capital, and capital needs art. We feel privileged to sustain that cycle with intention.
In what ways has collecting art influenced your life and perspective?
Julian Arnold: Art gives life meaning. It allows us to dream, to be seen and to feel deeply. It extends far beyond the canvas: into music, food, the silhouette of a chair, the mechanics of a watch. Collecting has profoundly expanded our capacity to experience and share in the fullness of the human condition.
Do you have any emotional connections or stories tied to specific pieces?
Julian Arnold: One evening, in a bar, we met a painter who was considering abandoning his practice entirely as he could no longer cover his rent. Chris handed him a pen and asked for a sketch on the back of a menu. He drew a flying figure, holding a double-edged sword and a cup filled with light. Chris paid him a year's rent that night. That artist is now producing some of the most compelling work of his career.
How do you decide where to display each work?
Christoph Pliessnig: Intimate, personal pieces find their place in our private spaces. Others are distributed across our Teroxx boutique offices throughout Europe, alongside select works of our own. Artists we wish to champion are often featured in our events or gallery exhibitions, where their work can meet a wider audience.
Do you rotate or replace works in your collection?
Julian Arnold: For now, we choose to hold. We often say that we keep our digital assets dynamic and our art collection for our quiet enjoyment, a deliberate counterbalance we intend to protect.
This interview first appeared in the 2026 edition of The Cyprus Journal of Wealth Management. Click here to view it.
