How to Invest in Art
When it comes to investing ones cash these days, it seems more rewarding and exciting to invest in a piece of art. The banks offer little interest and one of the advantages of alternative investments, such as wine, jewellery and classic cars, is that they can always be enjoyed even if financial returns are disappointing. And this is certainly true of art investment.
So what should one look for when investing in a painting or sculpture? Its best to spend a little time studying the artist that you wish to invest in.Do they have an agent? Are they a full time professional artist? Do they have gallery representation and a website ? Have they had solo exhibitions at established galleries?
If your budget doesnt stretch to a picasso or vangogh there are plenty of more affordable young artists
Visit places that sell original art. Go to an art gallery, museum and auction house to develop a sense of both great art and art that sells.
Read books and magazines on the art world. These offer background information and newsworthy items to enable you to spot trends, find new artists and understand how the art business works.
Buy art after you research the type, painter, average prices and authenticity.
Allocate a budget to invest in art over the long term. Artworks go up and down in price. Buying at the peak or before changing trends often means a poor investment.5
Invest in art that you enjoy. Know why the art appeals to you to determine if it might appeal to someone else.
Keep original frames and documents of any artwork. Replace a missing frame according to its period.
For investors with a bit more cash to spend - starting at £50,000 - the Fine Art Fund, run by former Christie's auction house expert Philip Hoffman, will give you exposure to the top end of the fine art market. The fund buys and trades in a wide range of works by artists such as Canaletto, Picasso and Hirst as well as ancient Chinese, Indian and Middle Eastern art.
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