Why Collecting Art Is One of the Smartest Wealth Moves You Can Make in 2025

Let’s cut straight to it: the stock market ain’t the only way to build wealth. Everybody tells you about stocks, crypto, real estate—but nobody tells you about art.

Here’s the truth: in certain decades, contemporary art outperformed the S&P 500. Collectors who made moves early sat on pieces that grew faster than some portfolios. And unlike numbers on a screen, art is something you can live with every day.

But art isn’t just money. It’s story. It’s culture. It’s memory. When you collect, you’re building something that outlives you and grows in value — financially, emotionally, and culturally.

In 2025, collecting art isn’t a luxury move. It’s a smart wealth strategy.

Original artwork from left to right: Downtown; Uptown

The Financial Case for Collecting Art 💸

Let’s talk money first.

The global art market hit record numbers in recent years. High-net-worth collectors are treating art like any other asset class. Why? Because it performs.

• In the last 20 years, contemporary art outpaced the S&P in growth.

• Unlike cars, tech, or fashion, well-collected art doesn’t depreciate—it appreciates.

• Scarcity matters. A stock can be split a thousand ways, but an original painting? One-of-one. Once it’s collected, it’s gone.

The mistake people make is thinking you have to be a millionaire to play the game. That’s false. The smartest collectors started small by buying emerging artists, building relationships, and getting in early.

Which leads me to this: Minneapolis (and cities like it) are full of undervalued work in 2025. You don’t need a Sotheby’s account to collect. You need an eye, consistency, and the willingness to start.

Culture = Wealth

Money is only half the story. The other half is culture.

When you collect art, you’re investing in voices, stories, and communities. That’s cultural wealth.

Think about it:

• You can’t hang stocks above your couch.

• You can’t pass down crypto in a way your grandkids can see and feel.

• But art? Art tells the story of who you are, what you value, and where you come from.

For Black collectors, BIPOC collectors, and anyone building generational wealth—this is crucial. Our stories deserve to live on walls, not just in textbooks. Collecting art is how you build a legacy that money alone can’t buy.

And here’s the kicker: cultural wealth feeds financial wealth. As certain movements gain recognition (like Black abstraction, Native voices, and street-to-gallery transitions), the value of those works rises. Collectors who moved early benefit most.

5 Steps to Start Collecting in 2025 Without Being Rich 🖐🏾

So maybe you’re asking: How do I even start?

Here’s the playbook:

1. Start Small

You don’t need a six-foot canvas to call yourself a collector. Start with a smaller work—a drawing, a study, or a piece on paper. Many artists (myself included) create works at different price points so new collectors can step in without breaking the bank. The point isn’t size or cost. The point is starting. That first piece is the seed of your collection.

2. Buy What Moves You

Forget chasing trends. Forget trying to match your couch or impress somebody else. If you love the piece, you’ll live with it, you’ll keep it, and over time that’s where the value grows. The most powerful collections are built on taste, not hype. Trust your gut.

3. Support Emerging Artists

Want to make a smart move? Support artists before the rest of the world catches on. Go to local shows, MFA exhibitions, pop-ups, and underground galleries. These are the artists who’ll be in museums tomorrow. The collectors who step in early aren’t just supporting culture…they’re buying into long-term growth.

4. Look for Consistency

Hype fades fast. A viral moment doesn’t guarantee an artist’s career will hold up. What you want to look for is consistency: artists building bodies of work with vision, discipline, and evolution. Collectors who spot consistency early often end up with the pieces that hold the most weight years later.

5. Build Relationships

The strongest collections come from connection. Talk to artists. Visit their studios. Ask about their process and their story. When you build relationships, you don’t just own a piece, you become part of an artist’s journey. And often? You’ll get first dibs on the best work before it ever hits a gallery wall.

This isn’t theory. I’ve seen collectors buy pieces from me years ago for under $500 that are now worth far more because of exhibitions and press. Early moves matter.

Stories from Collectors 👇🏾

Let me share two quick stories.

Collector A:

They bought a painting from me when I was still grinding in smaller shows. It was under $800. At the time, it wasn’t about investment, it was about connection. That piece has since traveled into exhibitions and been featured in catalogs. Its financial value has grown, but more importantly, it’s now a part of their home’s heartbeat.

Collector B:

They wanted something meaningful for their new apartment. Instead of dropping cash on mass-produced décor, they invested in an original canvas. Years later, they’ve added more works, building a personal collection that tells their story and will one day be part of their family’s legacy.

Both started small. Both built wealth—financially and culturally. That’s what collecting does.

Why 2025 Is the Right Time ⏳

Timing matters in collecting, and 2025 is ripe with opportunity.

The art market is global, but local scenes—especially cities like Minneapolis—are still undervalued. That means early collectors here have the chance to pick up powerful work at prices that will look cheap in a few years. It’s the same principle as buying stock before it goes public: you want in before everyone else sees the value.

BIPOC voices are also gaining overdue recognition. Museums and institutions are finally correcting decades of neglect, but prices in the market haven’t fully caught up yet. Collectors who move now aren’t just buying art, they’re buying into cultural and financial equity at the same time.

We’re also living through a major shift from street art to galleries. The muralists and community artists who’ve been painting walls for years are now showing on canvas, stepping into exhibitions, and building fine art careers. Their work is still accessible to everyday collectors, but it won’t stay that way for long.

In other words: if you’re sitting on the sidelines in 2025, you’re missing the moment. The upside is here right now. The only question is whether you’ll step into the game before the prices (and the opportunities) climb higher.

What to Collect in Minneapolis (and Beyond)

If you’re looking for starting points, here are a few lanes I’d be paying attention to:

• Black abstraction. Powerful, layered work that’s shaping the next wave of contemporary art.

• Native artists. Essential voices for American culture, undervalued by the mainstream market.

• Muralists turned studio artists. Their work is already public — collectors who buy the early studio pieces win big.

• Local emerging artists. Every MFA show, every community gallery, is an opportunity to collect before the crowd.

And yes, I’d include my own work here. Not because I say so, but because I’ve been building consistent bodies of work for 20+ years. Every piece I make is one-of-one, rooted in culture, and priced so early collectors can step in before value rises.

Original artwork from left to right: Dissolve; Namazu II

Don’t Wait to Collect 👏🏾

Wealth isn’t just numbers in an account. It’s story, culture, and memory. Collecting art gives you all three.

In 2025, art isn’t just a luxury for the elite. It’s a smart wealth move for anyone ready to invest in something that lives, grows, and outlasts them.

👉🏾 If you’re ready to start, check out my available works. Every piece is one-of-one, and once it’s collected, it’s gone.
👉🏾 Or, if you’re an artist trying to move your career forward, book a consultation with me. I’ll help you skip the mistakes and step into opportunities.

Don’t wait for the market to catch on. The time to collect is now.

Respect,
G

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About Gregory

I'm an East Cast native transplanted in the Midwest. I'm namely known as a painter, and have exhibited locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally.

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