How to invest in art in the middle of the tech age

The years when only great fortunes could invest in art are behind us. The tech age has not just made information easier to get hold of, it has also turned certain consumer goods that could once only be found in a few social circles into public property. Thanks to online art galleries (largely) you can now choose to buy artworks by emerging artists without too much fuss. All you'll need is trustworthy advice from art dealers and a willingness to let the artistic trends of the moment guide you.

The boom in art investment after the housing bubble

Until 2008, investment in Spain was massively focused on the property sector. Then people noticed that the instability this kind of investment is subject to, along with the costs that come with owning a house (especially when it isn't your main home), left millions of investors around the world disenchanted. According to figures released by City Bank (2016) the art market is going through a new golden age because artworks need very little maintenance and offer greater dynamism. With good knowledge and good instincts, you can buy and sell at a profit in barely 24 months. It's also a good emotional investment. That is, lovers of painting can hang these paintings in their home and enjoy them without too many tax bumps or any need for maintenance.

The rise of art investment in recent years is also closely tied to the fact that owners like having collections that bring prestige and value. It isn't purely an economic question. In the same way that a collector of classic vinyl will happily spend thousands of euros on a perfect first pressing from the 70s, an art collector can buy an artwork. The big difference is that the art market moves fast, and you can buy a painting by a newcomer for barely €100 and a few months later see that artist selling for a hundred times more.

Advice for investing in art intelligently

There's no manual for getting hold of an artwork, but you do have to draw a line between established professional artists and high risk art pieces.

• Piezas de artistas profesionales: La inversión en estas resulta más segura con una rentabilidad casi segura en tanto en cuanto se adquieran piezas realmente conocidas y con repercusión. Es una apuesta para los más conservadores con un bajo riesgo y una ganancia media.

• Piezas de arte con un alto riesgo: Son aquellas que pertenecen a autores desconocidos o que están emergiendo. Al igual que sucede con las acciones en bolsa, suponen un alto riesgo aunque las ganancias son altas. En este caso se aconseja que, aparte del objetivo financiero, se quiera contar con estas piezas por el placer de tenerlas.