Art Investing
“A picture can tell a thousand words,” so the saying goes...and in a thousand words (or so), we hope to discuss why art investing, such as buying a picture, might be worth your while!
So, where do we begin?
First, buy the book! Knowledge is power. A beginner’s guide by a reputable institution or publisher is a good place to start prior to art investing. For brief beginner’s guide, the International Foundation for Art Research (IFAR) provides a useful resource on the key questions for any art collector should ask.
This Lazy Trader guide will introduce you to the big and complex subject of art collecting. From the outset, it is essential to both define your aims and expand your knowledge.
Art investing: Why invest in art?
Lockdown has perhaps taught us the value of having something (anything?!) to cover the walls of our homes. Art collecting and art investing are not quite the same: one for pure enjoyment, the other for pure profit. These lines can blur and there is little point living with a painting or sculpture for years in the hope of profit if you can’t stand looking at it! What tickles your fancy? The key things to remember are:
- Collect what you enjoy, first and foremost, as no financial return is guaranteed. Any potential gain in value cannot be depended upon and a painting won’t pay you a regular dividend!
- Significant financial returns are possible from wise (or lucky) purchases. So, it is sensible to collect art with an investor’s mind as well as to invest in art with a collector’s mind.
- The process of familiarising yourself about the market, the art and the history behind it can be enjoyable for its own sake. Investment as a hobby is possible here. This also applies to other similar areas such as coin collecting and stamp collecting.
How much do you need to invest in art?
The answer depends on what you wish to collect and how quickly you wish to assemble a collection. It is possible to build a collection on a shoe-string budget but it requires time, knowledge… and luck! If it looks too good to be true, it probably is!
If your budget is limited, you may need to choose something unfashionable… the famous composer Andrew Lloyd Webber admired the Victorian artists of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood. In the 1960s, these paintings were out of fashion and sold cheaply but his investment eventually paid off…with his collection being proudly displayed in the Royal Academy, London, in 2003!
The most important lesson is to become knowledgeable, at least to an amateur level, on your chosen subject or collecting field. This will also require dedication, another reason to choose what interests you rather than what is said to be “the next big thing.”
How do I start art investing?
What do you enjoy looking at and learning about? Old Master paintings to Ming dynasty porcelain, Tiffany lamps to Victorian taxidermy… collecting is a wide field! Even teddy bears! A collection for profit or pleasure may be in obscure and niche categories , explore with an open mind:
- A place (e.g. America, France, China…)
- A time (e.g. Renaissance, Georgian, Contemporary…)
- A medium (e.g. paintings, drawings, ceramics, furniture…)
What you collect is also linked to budget. Works on paper (drawings and prints) are often far less expensive than paintings while unfashionable collecting areas or minor crafts, such as treen (small wooden objects), allow a variety of sizes of budget and homes!
Be prepared to look high and low for what interests you…
Where can I buy art?
There are many routes into the art market:
- Private dealers and galleries
- Public auction houses
- Art Investment Funds
- Informal sales (the internet, car boot sales and flea markets)
Private dealers:
If money is no object, prestigious private galleries are often the safest way to acquire the finest examples and guarantees are often provided. However, be prepared to compare prices between different galleries and do not expect to make a profit when reselling. The price will be high and reflects the guarantee of authenticity from an expert dealer. Even at this exclusive end, there are scandals. New York’s Knoedler & Co., founded in 1846, abruptly closed in 2011 due to a scandal involving almost $100m of fake paintings.
Public auction houses:
Major auction houses (e.g. Sotheby’s) provide a reputable forum. The finest auctions will also be showcasing the very finest pieces in any category but are sold at a specific time and in a competitive manner. Smaller, regional auctioneers can have specialised sales (e.g. Woolley & Wallis, Salisbury, is known for Asian Art sales or local interest categories. Small, local salerooms will generally have general sales with a wide variety of items for sale.
Art Investment Funds:
Resources are pooled by individual investors to finance an investment collection selected by experts. You will not have a say on the art purchased but you have the advantage of knowledgeable advisors familiar with the market.
Informal sales:
Along with local salerooms, informal collectibles markets and online auctions may contain overlooked treasures. With risk, comes reward… but expert knowledge is essential to be shopping here.
Public institutions and museums, such as the Tate Gallery, are not part of the art market. However, they can generate interest in overlooked artists or styles, or encourage an already established market, through their curatorial choices and exhibitions. They are also the best place to see many of the finest examples of most artists and styles so make regular research trips to your favourite galleries.
Art investing: Where should I avoid buying art?
“Buyer Beware!”
In Roman times, the markets declared this principle as “Caveat Emptor!” Auctions often place the term ‘sold as is’ in their conditions of sale and the duty is placed upon prospective bidders to thoroughly inspect the items to be sold before bidding. There is a possibility of returning the item to the auctioneer if the item is found to be fake or mis-catalogued but always read the terms and conditions carefully before bidding.
Do you have an eye for a bargain? It is important to remember that if it looks too good to be true, it probably is!
A beginner should avoid seeking investment-grade items at:
- Internet auctions
- Flea markets and car boot sales
Once a collector acquires specialist knowledge, bargains can be found but there is significant risk of forgeries or mis-attributions.
What are the pros and cons of art investing?
Negatives:
- Art requires a physical home: if you buy a large sculpture by Richard Serra which weighs several tonnes, where will you keep it?
- It is an illiquid asset class: if you need to sell quickly, you are unlikely to receive the best possible price. Art often requires a long investment horizon.
- Art investing requires extensive specialist knowledge: as with any investment or specialist field, there is a huge amount to know.
- It requires stewardship: suitable transport, climatic control and museum-grade materials can be costly. Avoiding deterioration through improper handling, conservation or housing is essential.
- Capital-Gains Tax (CGT) will be payable on any qualifying gains: unlike some asset classes, any profit, over-and-above your CGT allowance, will be liable for taxation.
Positives:
- Your investment is in your home. Beautiful art on your walls will be there for your enjoyment and enrichment.
- Your investment is in the real world. It is a physical asset that you own, not just a number on a screen.
- Your own knowledge expand. If you enjoy the subject, the process of research and collecting can be rewarding for its own sake, building networks and knowledge.
- Your balance sheet can benefit too. Significant returns are possible. However, as with all investments, your money is by no means guaranteed
- Your account can be diversified. As with a trading account, it is possible to spread your portfolio into various collecting categories to spread your risk.
Is art a good investment?
The question of whether art investing is a “good investment” is best answered in relation to your personal aims for your investment portfolio. Most artists and works of art will not ever be famous. Fashion also plays a part in the art market, so there is no guarantee your chosen collecting area will either become fashionable or remain fashionable.
Art does not provide a dependable income or a predictable rate of return.
Chance discoveries often make the news. Remember, it is very unlikely that you will find a Carravaggio in an attic… we wouldn’t recommend storing one in the attic anyway. However, with a long timeframe in mind, it might be possible to place treasures in your home for future generations to enjoy and, potentially, benefit financially from them.
Is art a safe investment?
As with foreign exchange trading, property portfolios or stocks investing, a collection requires maintenance. A few suggestions:
- Display or store your works of art in a safe place!
- Security and insurance appropriate to the value of the collection.
- Light, humidity and temperature controls appropriate to the preservation of the collection.
- Always employ a suitably qualified conservator for any work required or to advise on handling or storage.
- Do not discard your records (labels, receipts or documents).
- Handle your treasures safely.
Why mention storage and handling? Well, accidents do happen…Steve Wynn put his elbow through a treasured painting by Picasso in 2006. The painting was already contracted for sale to Steven Cohen for just under $140 MILLION… with the resulting damage costing the casino mogul about $40 million in lost value.
He was good-humoured enough to say that at least he did it, not one of his guests!
What are the best art investments?
Buy the best you can afford! Fine examples in any collecting category hold their relative values better than average specimens. A large budget can tilt the scales in your favour, allowing access to the finest pieces in a given field. However, there is no guarantee of profit and fashions do change…
Art collecting and investing come with considerable risk. No return on your investment is guaranteed and fakes do exist – only invest money you can afford to live without. Art is an illiquid asset category and realising the maximum returns can be a slow process.
If profit is your aim, be prepared to hold assets for long periods of time. Even the great Vermeer was considered an obscure Old Master for most of the 1700s and 1800s!
How can I avoid buying a fake?
Trust the experts! Quality examples by well-known artists purchased from established dealers or auction houses are the most secure investments (but are also often the most expensive). This is the closest to a guarantee of authenticity you can get.
Attributions to a given artist are often underpinned by PROVENANCE. A rock- solid provenance is a major factor in the value of a work of art. A good, basic guide on provenance is provided by IFAR® but, simply, this word describes the ownership history of the work of art. Ideally, this is an unbroken chain back to the artist. This is an essential element of authenticity.
A wise prospective collector should take every opportunity to see works of art in person before committing to forming a collection. At public auctions, it is customary to be permitted to see the back (reverse) of works of art and it is worthwhile to do so. A work of art is far more than a two-dimensional image and familiarising yourself with the construction and techniques will, over time, assist you to judge condition and authenticity. However, obtaining professional advice is always a prudent step for all but the most seasoned collector.
Top art investing tips
- Buy the books, do the reading! Research demands time and effort but it is probably cheaper
than a rash art purchase. - Visit the museums, galleries and auctions. Talk with the experts and examine pieces carefully to train your eye.
- Define your aims, budget and collecting areas. Your interests, ambitions and budget may change over time but it pays dividends to set parameters from the start.
- Buy what you like! Art is a subjective and personal investment or collecting category. You might have to look at your purchase every day for a long time!
Conclusion
This introductory guide hopes to have demonstrated the need to define your aims before embarking upon this journey. We have seen that art collecting and art investing are not always distinct. Many investors wish to enter the art market to make a profit. Like any specialist subject, this is unlikely without a thorough understanding of the field and more than a bit of luck. There are many players in the game, often holding stronger cards than you. However, it can be a rewarding and enjoyable journey. To become a wise investor in art, you will need to be proactive in looking at art, learning from art… and enjoying the experience of living with art!
