Investing in Australian Aboriginal Art                   

source: Australian Art Sales Digest

Art experts at home and overseas are now awaking to the unique power and beauty of Aboriginal art. So much so that internationally renowned art critic, Robert Hughes, has described it an "the world's last great art movement." It's an outstanding achievement for a group that represents just 2% of the Australian population.

"You cannot ignore indigenous art as an alternative asset class in any investment portfolio, just like Grange Hermitage"
Arthur Rowe (Arthur Rowe & Assoc.) "Art for Supers Sake"
The Australian Financial Review 25th June, 2004

The Australian art market has been in a long period of sustained growth. The turnover of Australian art at auction in 2004 totalled $86.3 million, a rise of $60.2 million from 1994. Of this figure, $12 million was Aboriginal art, six times the amount traded in 1997. This statistic precludes all primary sales from galleries which could be as high as $500 million.
Not only has supply and demand risen, but so have the prices. The Artprice index of Aboriginal artists (169 artists) increased by 79% between 2000 and July 2004. Works by acknowledged masters such as Rover Thomas and Emily Kame Kngwarreye now command prices of around half a million dollars.

Investing in Art for Pleasure

Unlike other collectables, you can enjoy art every day without reducing its value. A "buy and hold" strategy, long regarded as a key to successful wealth creation, becomes even easier when the "holding" part of the strategy is so rewarding.
As a collector of Australian art, you are participating in the building of Australian culture. This has unquantifiable rewards.