More South Africans are exploring art collecting as a store of value. The right piece can preserve wealth, hedge against inflation, and offer personal satisfaction, but risks remain for those chasing quick returns.

Traditionally investors might look to equities, property, and cash to protect and grow their wealth. For a small group of experts, however, art collecting has emerged as a niche alternative. While the value of a painting or sculpture might seem subjective, some artworks have steadily outpaced inflation and, in some years, delivered better returns than local equities.

But collecting art for investment is not a shortcut to riches. Unlike stocks or bonds, art is illiquid: selling can take months, and buyers are selective. Prices can swing wildly if an artist falls out of favour or a market correction hits.

Insurance, storage, and authentication are real costs, and fakes or overhyped trends can catch out the unwary. Yet for those who invest time in learning, focus on established names, and buy for love as well as money, art offers a way to store value outside the banking system, often with the added reward of beauty or heritage.

As South Africa’s regulatory environment grows ever more intrusive, some families are rediscovering art’s historical role as both a cultural asset and a silent financial hedge. The true payoff, however, remains slow and steady, and demands patience, knowledge, and an eye for genuine value.