Rising volatility in stocks and cryptocurrencies is pushing some investors toward alternative assets such as art for portfolio diversification. Art is no longer just an investment for billionaires and the ultra-wealthy. Recent trends show younger Americans are increasingly entering the art market as both collectors and investors.
Millennials and Generation Z made up the majority of active art buyers in a 2025 global survey of wealthy collectors conducted by art market research firm Arts Economics and UBS. The survey found that 74% of respondents were from these two generations, suggesting younger collectors are playing a key role in driving activity in the art market.
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As interest in art investing grows, financial institutions are launching new products and advisory services to help clients navigate the complex art market. Bank of America Corp. (NYSE:BAC) recently launched its art consulting service for wealthy clients. It offers guidance on art history, market trends, and auctions, while giving clients access to galleries and private dealers as they build collections for wealth and legacy planning.
Platforms like Masterworks have also made it possible for a wider range of investors to access the art market. By allowing people to buy shares in blue-chip artworks, Masterworks gives investors the opportunity to diversify their portfolios with alternative assets without needing to purchase entire pieces, making art investing more accessible to younger and non-traditional collectors.
Art is no longer just something to hang on a wall and keep for life. For many wealthy collectors, it’s becoming a way to generate cash, with more people borrowing against their art collections to raise money for business investments and other opportunities. About 70% of wealth managers reported higher demand for art-backed loans last year, according to a Deloitte survey. Among family offices that offer art financing, 67% said art-backed loans were primarily used for business purposes in 2025, nearly double the 36% reported in 2023, the survey found.
“We’re going to see a lot of art changing hands,” Bank of America’s head of art services Drew Watson told British financial news outlet Financial News. “Some of that art is going to be inherited; some collections will be repositioned, with works being sold and other works being bought.”
