Welcome back to our blog series with CEO Ann Priftis, where we continue to explore the inner workings of the art market—its players, patterns, and possibilities. This week, we’re asking a question many collectors—new and seasoned—often consider:

 Is art worth it? 

Beyond beauty and emotional connection, can collecting art also be a smart financial move? With growing interest in fine art as an alternative investment, the conversation is expanding—driven by auction houses, financial institutions, and innovative platforms working to make the art world more accessible. 

In this post, we explore the potential for art to serve both passion and portfolio, and what to keep in mind if you're thinking about collecting with value in mind. 

Let’s take a closer look.

So, Is Art Worth It?

Secure financial transactions and increased price transparency allow for a more democratic approach to buying art. We’ll explore each of these categories in deeper detail through future blog posts.

At Off Piste, we advise collectors to acquire what they love: artworks that inspire, bring joy and add to their environments’ unique personal aesthetic.  But can art also be a good investment? Over the past decade, the topic of fine art as an alternative investment has become a popular discussion driven by financial institutions, auction houses and new art tech businesses focused on democratizing the art collecting experience. 

We believe, yes, art can be a sound investment. Ultimately, if a collector loves art, is willing to invest the time in learning about the market, and has patience, collecting art can be an exciting and potentially profitable venture. When approaching art as an investment, it’s important to keep the following considerations in mind.  Unlike more traditional investments, art is a tangible asset that collectors can enjoy in daily life.  Diversifying a portfolio with art, which has a low correlation to traditional assets like stocks and bonds, can help investors weather market disruptions and, occasionally, an artwork can appreciate significantly if an artist becomes successful in the primary and secondary markets. One key factor to keep in mind is the illiquidity of art.  Art can be challenging to sell quickly and market volatility based on trends, economic forces and art/artist-specific events can be difficult to predict.  Collectors should plan to hold onto artwork that they love for at least several years before considering a sale … one of the many reasons why we advise collectors to buy art that they love and love living with. If you’re considering collecting art as an investment, reach out to your Off Piste Art Consultant for information about our artists, their unique markets and sales history.  Helping grow your knowledge of artists and developing your excitement for collecting is our expertise and passion.

Ann Priftis

CEO

Art collecting isn’t just about financial return—it’s about passion, perspective, and building a meaningful connection with what you bring into your space. The more you learn, the more confident and rewarding your journey becomes. 

In our next post, we’ll take a closer look at the different categories of fine art- how to identify and differentiate between Old Masters to Contemporary art —and what makes each one unique in the eyes of collectors and investors alike. 

Questions or thoughts? We’d love to hear from you. Let’s make this a conversation.