Art as an Investment

(and why that's not just about money)

When people hear "art as an investment", they usually picture auction houses and price tags. That's not what I mean.

Over the years, Nathan and I have collected a few big pieces. If I'm honest, we've never once bought one wondering what it might be worth later. Every time, what we were really buying was a piece of who we are.

Walk through our house and you'll see it. Some pieces are loose and botanical, and they make a room feel relaxed. Others are bold and geometric, with colour that doesn't hold back. There's a swirly, feminine piece in our bedroom that Nathan loves, hanging next to a simple monochrome sketch by a young Māori arts student. And near the front door there's something warm and earthy that says "welcome" before anyone's even said hello.

None of it matches. That's the point.

Art says what you can't

A sofa tells people you needed somewhere to sit. A piece of art tells them what you love. It's one of the few things in a home that's chosen purely because it means something to you, and that's what makes it such a bold choice. Hanging a big, colourful piece on your wall is a way of saying "this is us", without saying a word.

It's the gift that keeps on giving

Here's the part I think about most. Our kids will inherit this collection one day. Each piece marks a house we lived in, a trip we took, or the life phase when we chose it. A cushion gets replaced, a rug wears out, but a painting just keeps collecting stories.

That's the real return on art: you get to enjoy it every single day, and it keeps meaning more over time.

You don't need to start big

You don't need a huge budget or a big blank wall to start a collection. Start with one piece you genuinely love, then let the collection grow with you.

Framed limited edition ‘Aloha’ print in A1 size

And if you've got a big blank wall waiting for something bold, keep an eye out for Wild Walls, my collection of large botanical scroll paintings, launching 26 November.

X Bri