How to Start Your Own Art Collection (Australia, 2025)

How To Start Your Own Art Collection is a concise starter guide for new and emerging collectors. We explore how to set goals and budget, find works, and perform due diligence for your collection with local market context.

 

CURRENT MARKET: WHY NOW IS A PRACTICAL ENTRY POINT

In 2024-25 the global art market adjusted to shifting demand and macroeconomic pressures: sales in the global art market declined by 12% in 2024 to an estimated $57.5 billion, with the main drag on growth being the high end of the market. Despite the drop in value, the number of transactions increased, signalling demand resilience at entry and mid-market tiers, meaning a greater supply and opportunity for new collectors. 

In Australia, while specific 2025 art sales statistics are still emerging, momentum suggests the 2025 total annual sales figure will exceed the previous period. Auctions accounted for more than A$140 million in 2024, a visible but limited share of total art sales. Most transactions occur through galleries and private sales, ideal for discovering emerging and mid-career artists. 

According to Australian Art Sales Digest (AASD), Australian auctions of Indigenous art recorded a strong increase in overall sales, which saw a total of AUD $10.361 million. When combined with the AUD $1.35 million generated in the overseas sale at Sotheby’s, New York, this totals AUD $11.7 million in sales in the first 6 months of this year. When compared to 2024, which saw a total of AUD $13.483 million in auction sales trade hands in the entire 12 months of that year, and an uptick at local auctions in Australia, if sale trends continue at these levels, that could translate to a 50% potential overall increase in annual sales at auction.

 

WHY COLLECT ART?

“The meaning must come from the seeing, not the talking.”

  - Barnett Newman, 1905-1970

In his authoritative book, The Value of Art, Michael Findlay writes ‘No two persons looking at the same painting, sculpture, or drawing are having the same experience.’ Art is personal and should reflect who you are innately; it should speak to you. 

To begin, a written brief is a collector’s best tool. It saves time, provides clarity, and helps advisors source strategically. Define the following:

Purpose and Motivation

Enjoyment, investment, social capital (social and cultural value), interior design, or a blend. Prioritise one. 

Budget and Focus

Set clear bands. For example, prints < $1 500; emerging $1 500-$15 000; established > $15 000.

Choose themes or media: painting, sculpture, photography, or digital.

'Peace Consolidation' - Raffi Yedalian

 

WHERE TO BUY

Galleries

Best for discovery and relationship-building. Make sure to request artist resume’s, and provenance.

Art Fairs

Many cities and districts hold annual art trails. Great for discovering a high density of local artists.

Auctions

Use for secondary market works and price benchmarks. Always factor in buyer’s premiums and GST. Most auction houses sell historical and contemporary pieces from well-known and emerging artists.

Online Platforms 

Global online art sales have proven resilient and have shown a rise in sector performance. Online platforms make art more accessible, transparent, and easier to navigate, especially for new and emerging collectors.

 

'Fragments de Conscience' - Kiko Nicolas

 

DUE DILIGENCE

Provenance and Documentation

Provenance is a French term for the history of ownership of a valuable object. Once a work has entered the secondary market, they are accompanied by this list of previous owners.

Condition 

A written assessment of a work of art by a professional in the field; high resolution images available to sight before purchase.

Authenticity 

Confirm with gallery, artist, or recognised industry expert, and where possible, ask for certificates.

Contracts and Costs 

Confirm total price (including buyer’s premium, GST, insurance, shipping, and other relevant costs.) Enquire if framing is included.

WORKING WITH AN ART ADVISOR

Advisors streamline sourcing, valuations, and negotiations. They provide expert opinion and guidance in navigating primary and secondary art markets, and help to create meaningful collections. 

 

'Bondi Beach Still Life' - Alex R Plaza

 

START COLLECTING WITH THE POET’S MADNESS ART ADVISORY

The art market in Australia offers extraordinary opportunities for new and emerging collectors. Whether you collect for passion, investment, or social capital, the process is rewarding on many levels.

Begin by setting your goals, budget, and aesthetic vision, and when you’re ready, let The Poet’s Madness Art Advisory guide you through the next steps to build a thoughtful collection.

Visit thepoetsmadness.com to explore our curated collections or book a 15-minute advisory consultation to begin your personal collecting journey. 

 

'Universal Law of Vibration' - Madison Davies

REFERENCES AND FURTHER READING 

1. Art Basel & UBS, The Art Basel and UBS Global Art Market Report 2025
   https://theartmarket.artbasel.com/global-market

2. Australian Art Sales Digest
   https://www.aasd.com.au/news/ 

3. ABC News
   https://www.aasd.com.au/news/1167-art-market-defies-global-uncertainty-with-powerful-results-at-sm

4. Mid-Year Art Market Report 2025, D’Lan Davidson
   https://dlancontemporary.com.au/mid-year-art-market-report-2025

5. Michael Findlay, The Value of Art, 2012, 2022 
   

6. Title Image, 'Westminster #43, London' by Tim Steward.
   Artwork available at www.thepoetsmadness.com