Buy the Art You Love… Not the Art You Hope Your Kids Will Love
Here's a question I get asked more often than you might think: "Should I buy this piece because someday my children can have it?"
Sometimes. But most of the time, buy the artwork because you love it. Unless you're talking about a major collectible work, a historically significant piece, or something your child has specifically chosen and loves, your best investment is usually the artwork that speaks to you right now.
Art in our Community Gallery during “The Purple Carrots" exhibit
Art is personal. I've seen it happen many times: a family member passes down a beautiful, one-of-a-kind original, full of craftsmanship and sentimental value, and the next generation looks at it and thinks, "Where am I going to put this?" Not because it isn't beautiful or valuable. Simply because it doesn't fit their style or the way they experience art. And that's okay. Your favorite piece might be a bold abstract, while your child leans toward quiet landscapes. Neither is right or wrong. They're just different, and that's the magic of art.
Buy For Your Life Today
When you bring original artwork into your home, you'll see it every day. It becomes part of your environment and your story. Choose pieces that make you happy, that make you stop and look a little longer, that make you smile when you walk into the room. If your children fall in love with it someday, that's a wonderful bonus, but the joy it brings you today is what matters most.
The Exception: Truly Collectible Artwork
If you're purchasing from a highly collected artist or a historically important piece, the conversation changes; those pieces can become investments and family assets, and proper documentation and care matter accordingly. But for most art lovers, a piece's greatest value isn't only what it might be worth someday. It's what it brings into your life today.
Protect Your Artwork Investment
Whether your artwork is worth a few hundred dollars or many thousands, protect it. We recommend:
Photographing your artwork, including close-up images of signatures and details
Taking video of your collection in your home
Keeping receipts, certificates of authenticity, and artist information
Recording the artist name, title, medium, and purchase date
Adding valuable artwork to your homeowner's or renter's insurance policy
For higher-value pieces, your insurer may require a professional appraisal or additional documentation. Having this organized in advance makes things much easier if something unexpected happens. Your artwork isn't just something hanging on your wall. It's part of your home and your story.
The Best Collection Is the One That Reflects You
Your walls should tell your story, not become a storage place for future generations. Buy the piece that makes your heart skip a beat. And if someday your children look at that piece and say, "I love this. I want this in my home," you'll have created something even more special.
Until then: enjoy it, live with it, love it. Because the best artwork is the art that gets to be part of your story first.
