Approach art investing as you would stocks and bonds: expert

Once a hobby of the ultra-rich, fine art collecting has become more accessible to private investors, and one expert says it’s best to approach art investing in much the same way you would a stock or bond.

Rob Cowley, Canadian art specialist and president of art auction house Cowley Abbott, told BNN Bloomberg in a Tuesday television interview that art investing is “not dissimilar” to traditional investments.

“You're looking at the artist; who has created the artwork, of course, you're looking at the quality, the quality is very important,” Cowley said.

“(You’re looking at) the period; what the artist is best known for, the subject matter, the condition, and what's in fashion as well, so very much it does reflect the stock market in that way.”