DISCUSSIONS WITH | 5 MINUTE READ
NEON GALLERY: WHAT TO CONSIDER WHEN INVESTING IN ART
The team of art aficionados at Accouter work with international galleries to find the right piece for your space, whilst providing sound advice on major art investments or commissions. For the most part of the year, many of us have spent more time at home than ever before. It has come as no surprise that people have been looking at new art investments for the home. The Accouter team recently fell into discussions with Neon Gallery on the history behind the team, what should be considered when investing in a new piece and what is next for them.
THE STORY BEHIND NEON GALLERY
Neon Gallery began as an idea between two colleagues who were on different sides of the art market. Dr. Dimitrios Tsivrikos and Christopher Shake met in 2016 during a business transaction in which Dimitrios was working as an art advisor and Chris a gallery director, and over the years, they continued to work together in this capacity. In 2019, while participating in Art Basel Miami, the two realised they shared a common unease with the current state of the art market and a desire to do things differently, ‘to reimagine the very essence of what it means to be an art gallery’. Six months later, Neon Gallery was born, on the premise of redefining the art-acquisition journey and delivering to their clients the experience that they, themselves, were craving: transparency, education, and excitement.
NEON GALLERY’S MISSION
At Neon Gallery, they are committed to trailblazing a unique path to a more transparent, egalitarian and engaging art experience. One that values equality over exclusivity. One that values a personal journey of education, inspiration and discovery. Neon view diversity as a strength, and essential to leveraging the rapid growth of the global art market on behalf of their clients. They believe in innovation over the status quo. By reimagining the very idea of what it means to be a gallery that serves the evolving needs of contemporary culture; Neon are authoring new chapters to the story of an energised marketplace, one that serves as a virtuous cycle for artists, collectors and the next generation of art-world leaders.
WHY PEOPLE SHOULD INVEST IN ART
Art is not linked to the stock market; it means that artworks can increase in value even when the market crashes. According to a recent report by Deloitte, the latest technological evolutions strongly support the positioning of art as a new asset class that presents exciting opportunities for newcomers to diversify their investment portfolios. At Neon, they offer a range of services and professional insights that allow you to easily and safely choose from a variety of works that will enrich both your bank account and your life. In this vein, there’s a growing body of work from psychologists and mental health professionals that demonstrates that being surrounded by art and creative installations do wonders for your mental health and well-being.
Indeed, research has shown that viewing art increases blood flow to the brain’s frontal cortex by 10%, which is equivalent to gazing at a loved one. Art viewing stimulates the release of dopamine, a process that can result in elevating your mood to new highs. All this to say that art allows our brains to relax, as it encourages us to escape and create a mental state of relaxation and peace. Finally, from experience working with a wide variety of companies and hospitality businesses, Neon have had a great deal of feedback indicating that following the installation of art in the space, their employees felt significantly more energised and creative. This is backed up by research which states that displaying art in your home or office environment has the potential to enhance one’s creative capacity, thereby driving innovation and productivity. So, whether you’re working at home or when you return to your office, let Neon Gallery help you in not only choosing great art but allowing art to boost your creativity and overall productivity.
WHAT PEOPLE SHOULD CONSIDER WHEN LOOKING
FOR A NEW PIECE
Neon Gallery fully understands that looking for new work can at times be confusing and overwhelming. There are so many artists and artworks to choose from. At Neon, they have developed a method that allows clients to feel safe and fully empowered in making the right choice. Neon have a three-step process that highlights the key principles that any collector, whether new or established, should consider;
Step One: Love
You must be drawn to the work, regardless of fads and current fashions. As in all industries, some certain fads and trends move in and out of popularity within the art world. Neon’s recommendation is to always consider whether you feel a particular piece will continue to represent you not only today but in the years to come. If yes, then the process moves forward; if not, you are in safe hands with the team as they have access to thousands of works from both emerging and established artists.
Step Two: Space
Consider where you will place the work. Artworks can be an excellent way to enrich a space or property, whether commercial or domestic. Neon love working with companies like Accouter, where they have the opportunity to collectively assess and advise the best ways to harmonise works with the desired space while making sure that they have the best possible design solutions to meet their needs.
Step Three: Investment
Needless to say, 2020 has taught us all the importance of being careful with our funds. At Neon, they use the latest tech to assist you in choosing works that will be assets not only for your eyes but for your wallets, too. While strongly believing that you should absolutely fall in love with new work, the expert team can advise you to navigate through works that might also provide an extra investment perk or two. To sum it up: the opportunities are endless, but at Neon it all starts with Love, Space, and Investment.
“This year has been incredibly challenging for everyone, and our thoughts and feelings go out to all those who have been seriously impacted by the pandemic. As a new gallery, we've managed to keep our overhead costs low and thanks to some key strategic moves, we've found new and innovative ways to continue to connect with our client base to offer great works of art to suit their individual needs. And although the volume of sales has changed somewhat, the recognition of the importance of art as an investment has increased significantly. While we believe passionately that art has the potential to enrich one's quality of life and environmental aesthetics, the right works can equally enrich one’s investment portfolio. So, the 'new normal' for us means being more agile and flexible within evolving market dynamics, while tirelessly scouting the market to find exciting works and artists that meet both the aesthetic and investment needs of our clients.”
– NEON GALLERY.
WHAT’S NEXT FOR NEON GALLERY
“We are incredibly excited and optimistic about the future. We're actively working on a number of new shows that will take place in the UK and Europe, as well as developing an art-viewing technology platform that will allow our clients to experience works in increasingly more interactive and engaging ways. We’re continually interacting with our clients and, in line with our gallery’s ethos, we're aiming to create client solutions that go above and beyond the existing market norms, as we endeavour to make collecting art more accessible, interactive and fun.”
To learn more about Neon Gallery and their latest show, click here.
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