There are two main problems that I see when people are thinking about buying art. The first is justifying to themselves spending money on what seems like such a luxury item, and the second is deciding which piece of art to buy. Well, I came across a very interesting article "Paint by Numbers" by Bill Saporito in Time Magazine, that my help with the fears around spending money on art. It turns out "According to the Mei Moses World All Art Index (MMAI), which tracks art sales across several categories, art returned 10.2% in 2001, crushing the S&P's 0%." The article goes on to say that Art beat out the S&P in a 10 year match up as well 4.6% to 0%. It is not always such a landslide victory though I have to point out. At a 25-year match up the S&P edges out art but then at 50 years it is a draw. Overall the article concludes ".... art has about the same return and same risk as equities....". Saporito ends his article but pointing out that even if the art market crashes....”at least you'll have something to look at when you're broke.". A true statement, but I disagree with the sentiment a little. I would say at least you will have something to look at and enjoy the whole time of your investment. Art in your home pays out the whole time you own it. I don't know anyone that frames and puts there stock portfolio on the wall for everyone to admire. Which brings me to the issue of what piece of art you actually want to have up. I personally think that you should not think about the investment opportunity of art first, but second, after thinking about what you like first. There are a lot of choices out there and it is easy to find both diamonds in the rough and ones that are already cut and polished. So find what you enjoy first and then look into if you could, should you ever want to sell, make a return on your investment. As far as buying big names artists versus lesser-known artists who are just starting to make a name for themselves? I think anybody that bought stock in the early 80's from a lesser-known company named Apple may have an answer for you there. You can read the whole article in the January 30, 2012 issue of Time.
