Research data management (RDM) for open access (OA) involves maintaining, preserving and adding value to research data throughout its lifecycle. OA to data and research outputs in the visual arts is complex due to the non-standard nature of visual arts research and the practiced based approaches to research adopted. So how can visual artists comply with the ever-changing open access policies and funder requirements for open access, and suitably manage their “stuff” – a way that data in the arts can defined? This paper aims to highlight the complexities of data management in the visual arts, the management of one’s “stuff”, and relate this to the issues surrounding open access of data and data preservation.