NEW YORK—If you thought the art world seemed like an exclusive club, try joining the International High IQ Society. True, the world’s second-largest high-IQ society is open to more people than its more illustrious and persnickety competitor, Mensa—Mensa only allows people testing in the top 2 percent to join, while the IHIQS is a little more forgiving, welcoming the top 5 percent—but let’s just say I felt a little on the fringes when I accompanied a friend who’s a member to an IHIQS party at founder Nathan Haselbauer’s SoHo apartment.

But then I spotted it—Art! All over the walls!—ah, glorious common ground! Turns out, Haselbauer, 32, a former trader who left Wall Street to run the society and write puzzle and IQ books, has a burgeoning art collection in addition to all his other pursuits.

ARTINFO asked him to tell us a little about the collection, currently at 27 pieces and growing.

How I started collecting:

I started collecting in 2002, first because I wanted something different to look at, and later on as a way to diversify my investments.

My first acquisition:

My first acquisition was Andy Warhol's Chairman Mao wallpaper print, which I bought in an auction from the Martin Lawrence Gallery for $3,800. I had always admired Warhol's work, and I had my eye on the Mao for some time. When it came up for auction I was excited, but at the same time nervous about attending my first auction. The art world is very insular and regimented, and auction protocol can be intimidating for the novice collector.

My high IQ and art collecting:

I don't know that there's too much correlation between the two. I'd say a stronger correlation would be travel. Having traveled to over 32 countries has exposed me to a vast spectrum of art and has turned me on to more artists. [I came to appreciate] Egon Schiele, when I was in his tiny hometown (Cesky Krumlov in the Czech Republic), and Max Beckmann, when I was in Austria.

Advice for beginning collectors:

Art is intensely personal, and the old maxim "one man's garbage is another man's treasure" applies in the art world as well. Instead of gravitating towards a universally known artist (such as Picasso or Warhol), try finding an artist you absolutely love who hasn't been oversaturated yet. You can find surprising bargains in the more obscure artists, and it forces you to expand your search beyond the obvious.