Art as investment

Abstract

This paper applies the Fama-French three-factors model, augmented with Momentum and Liquidity factors, to analyze Art as an Investment. It also compares investing in Art to several other traditional and non-traditional investments. There is evidence that Market and Momentum factors explain the risk premia in some Art sub-segments. The Market Beta, in particular, is lower than what is found in the existing literature, whereas the Momentum factor might explain part of the premia of Contemporary Art and Old Masters. There is no evidence, however, that Art and its subsegments command a Liquidity premium. The paper also discusses the efficient share of Art in a diversified portfolio.