The art world has its own pulse, an energy which savvy followers learn to recognise. Like any market, there are both patterns and surprises. This guide will share them and give you insights on what to expect.
Most of us want art we love first. That’s the main thing. If it happens to go up in value, then great. But how does that happen?
Or asked simply, can you find both art you love, and that has a good chance to increase in value?
This guide gives a clear, no-nonsense summary of how it works. Yes, every year we hear about people selling art for 10x, 20x and more, than what they’ve paid, after just a few years. And yes, it is an unregulated industry where what we would call ‘insider trading’ in other industries is the norm.
Whilst I only recommend buying art you love, first and foremost.
I was having coffee with James Sevier, head of Contemporary Art at Sotheby’s at the time (now Chairman), and I couldn’t help but ask, “What is your go-to advice to clients for investing in art?” And he replied, “Only buy pieces you love, and you’ll never go wrong.”
The beauty of collecting art is not the money. It’s the story behind the piece, the legacy of that narrative, and the private joy of tapping into a Zeitgeist in human culture. When the work increases in value, that just adds yet another layer of joy.
Still, would you prefer your art to be an expense or an investment? Whilst every investment can go up or down, most art only has lottery-winning odds to increase in value.
But the fact is that art has been a great investment for many, many people.
My parents forbade me from having a career in the arts, so I trained as an engineer at uni. That training taught me to break things down. To look for the common denominators in things. That’s the approach I share.
Like anything else, there are patterns and surprises. When you follow the patterns regularly enough, you get more wins than losses, and that’s what builds a valuable collection.