What triggers people’s art buying notions?

Art at its very core, serves as a dynamic influencer of human behavior and a catalyst for cultural and social interaction. It is the human’s response to inspiration, life and existence that transcends time and space and endures for generations to come.

What’s interesting about art and design is that different people perceive them differently and no two people experience art identically. Art invokes a reaction that predominantly is specific to the viewer’s personality, state of mind, experiences, convictions and plethora of emotions or lack thereof.

So what exactly triggers people in general and steers their art buying practices?

One of the most dominant is pure fascination with art, appreciating an art-piece and falling in love with it in specific. If a piece connects with the viewer and massively resonates, stirring emotions or memories and thoughts; impulse buying kicks in and would be the main driver behind that specific purchase. The enjoyment of that piece would add “an it-experience” to the whole situation and render that piece memorable, therefore, the purchase.

A second approach or trigger is “Collecting”. Art collectors tend to purchase art pieces to constantly add to their collections and amplify the theme with that “it piece” that would complement the whole, in their procession to perfect their collection. A continuous quest for art collectors and aficionados that could become a lifestyle or a constant quest.

The third trigger is “Power”. Some pieces give the indication of power or social status. Buying a collector’s item or a significant masterpiece would signify power and exude allure magnifying the glamor and glorifying the persona.

A forth trigger is “Investment”. Art at times, can be a hedge against a volatile or unstable economic environment. Other times, art patrons and sponsors acquire pieces by a specific young or emerging artist or creative in the hope that these pieces would appreciate in value in the near or far future. In many cases, these sprees boost interest in the artist, amplifying his sales, which in turn would hike the prices of the artist’s pieces. A win-win.

The fifth notion is “The Statement”. Whether a social message that an art piece is putting forward matches the viewer’s values, or a political statement a person perceives as aligning with his beliefs, buyers might choose to make the purchase to satisfy their notions of social justice or political affiliations.

Art is subjective, so in the end, what triggers people to buy art varies depending on the depth of their convictions, appreciation, social status or even business acumen, but one thing is for sure, it is not a one size fits all and the value perceived lies deep in the intent of the buyer.