8 Lessons I Learned From My Alternative Parents

For many of my birthdays throughout my childhood, my father gave me pieces of art. From paintings by local artists to photographs from across the world, my art collection grew as I got older — as did my affinity for various mediums. Even though I may not have always understood the art (or why my earliest memories are sitting in a stroller, being wheeled through art exhibits), I’ve come around. Today, I think it’s pretty great that I’ve owned art for the vast majority of my 24 years, had visited most major museums by age 10, and as a teenager could chat about everything from Giacomelli photography to Chihuly glass sculpture.