Photo: Brooke Holm

Jean Lin isn’t afraid of a challenge. She recently moved Colony, the artist collective and gallery that she founded, to a new location in Tribeca—while celebrating its 10^th anniversary, no less—and found time to write a book, What We Keep: Advice from Artists and Designers on Living with the Things You Love (Abrams). Here, she tells us what motivates her and inspires her love of beautiful objects.

Tell us about Colony. When I decided to start Colony, it was in the spirit of a cooperative. After Hurricane Sandy, I organized a charity exhibit called Reclaim NYC. I then realized that there was this whole group of young designers making amazing work but sharing the challenge of getting their work seen.

How did you choose the new Tribeca location? I looked at a lot of places, but this space hit the center of the bullseye so perfectly that I couldn’t pass it up. Being at street level gives us a chance to share with passersby outside. It’s a big opportunity for Colony to grow.

What excited you most about writing a book? I wanted to explore the connection and intimacy between the collector, the designer of a space and the makers of the objects that live in that space. The people and the work live together in balance and make each other stronger.

What kinds of interiors can readers expect to find in your monograph? The homes are beautiful, but they’re also filled with meaning and sentimentality—so many things that are beyond just pretty. I want to inspire readers to ask questions about their own lives and what they surround themselves with.