A method and apparatus for a data analysis system for analyzing data object collections is provided. The data analysis system includes one or more graphical user interfaces comprising various interface elements that enable users to create visual queries. A visual query is constructed as a graph representing a pattern of interest in a collection of data objects. A visual query may include one or more graph elements and property information associated with the specified graph elements. After a user has constructed a visual query, the system may transform the visual query into a query template. A query engine may then execute the query template to search a data object collection for data object results corresponding to the specified pattern. The search for instances of a specified pattern in a collection of data objects is referred herein to as a “search around.”