About the +ART Column
The +ART column brings you articles that help you feel closer to art. From seasonal artist features to clear, easy-to-follow explanations for newcomers, we explore art's many facets and share its appeal from every angle. Our aim is to help you find little ways to let art settle naturally into everyday life. We hope you'll relax and enjoy the world of art with us.
Contents
- Introduction
- What is a collection?
- What if you think of art as an "asset"?
- How to collect art—even as a beginner
- In closing
Introduction
People buy art for all sorts of reasons. "I want to hang it in my room," "I want to support an artist I love," "It simply moved me"—every one of them is a wonderful motive. But what if the very piece you took home became a valuable "collection" a few years from now? Art holds that kind of future, too!
This time, from the perspective of enjoying art as a collection, we'll explore the appeal of buying art and its future value!
What is a collection?
What exactly is a "collection"?
In the art world, a "collection" isn't simply about gathering a great many things. It's about carefully keeping and appreciating works you've chosen through your own eyes, and finding value in them. A museum gathering works is, in fact, a form of collecting, too. Lately, more and more people enjoy collecting on a personal level, some doing so with the feeling of "building their own little museum."
As a hobby, and as an asset
An art collection has both a hobbyist side—"I collect because I love it"—and an asset side, with the potential to grow in value over time. Being able to enjoy it from both angles is part of what makes art so fascinating.
What if you think of art as an "asset"?
When you look at art as an "investment," what likely concerns you is whether the value will really rise, and how you'd sell it when the time comes.
What kinds of works have the potential to rise in value?
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The artist's future potential
Even if they aren't well known yet, young artists who appear in art awards and exhibitions are well worth watching. As their activity expands, their reputation can rise and be reflected in prices!
▶︎Related article: Uncover Hidden Talent! A Recommendation for Buying Work by Emerging Artists -
The scarcity of the work
Pieces with small editions, or completely one-of-a-kind works, are appealing for their high scarcity! Once popularity takes off, "it's no longer available" ties directly to a rise in value. -
How much attention the genre or technique is getting
For example, genres with a trend-driven quality—like NFT art or mixed-media works—are drawing attention right now. But rather than merely riding a trend, an artist's consistency and concept are also important factors to weigh!
Think ahead about your "exit" after buying
What is the secondary market?
In the art world, when a work once owned by someone is offered for sale again, this is called the "secondary market."
The importance of certificates (signature, certificate, provenance)
If there's any chance you'll sell in the future, check at the time of purchase whether a certificate is included! Keeping a record of the artist's own signature, and of when and where you bought the work, also helps preserve its value.
Balance "investment" and "sensitivity"
A work of art is also a world of "sensitivity," one that numbers and data alone can't capture. If, alongside an investor's eye, you hold the feeling of "I own it because I love it" or "I want to support this artist," then even if the price never rises, it will be a purchase you won't regret. "Investing in your own sensitivity" is, too, a vital value of art collecting!
How to collect art—even as a beginner
At first, "I love it" is everything!
There's no need to overthink it. "Something about it catches my eye," "I'd love to hang this in my room"—cherish that feeling! The starting point of a collection isn't someone else's idea of value, but what holds value for you!
▶︎Related article: Enjoy It Without Hesitation! The Benefits of Choosing Art by Instinct
How to enjoy it at an online shop
At shops that sell while sharing the artist's intentions and the background of a work, the appeal is that you can "buy it together with its story"! You can take your time choosing a favorite that's all your own.
▶︎Related article: Done Right From Your Phone! The Appeal of Buying Art at an Online Shop
Enjoy it for the long term with proper storage and framing
Do display the work you've welcomed in with care. Simply avoiding direct sunlight and humidity can make a big difference to its condition.
▶︎Related article: Carry Your Art Into the Future! A Thorough Guide to Proper Storage
Framing, too, is something that greatly enhances a work's impression and its preservation. If you're curious, do take a look at framing options as well!
▶︎Related article: What Is Framing? Frame Your Favorite Art Yourself and Enjoy It!
In closing
The word "collection" may sound like a slightly high bar. But it isn't reserved for special people—it's a way of enjoying art that anyone can begin!
Display it, look at it, feel it in the midst of daily life. Before you know it, the "favorites" that naturally accumulate may have become your own little art collection! Start with a single piece that draws you in. Go and search for a wonderful encounter.
Why not add a little art to your space?
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