Art x You x Lotus & Michael

Your Best Investment (by Historic and Personal standards)

 

1. ART- History and Projections of the Global Art Market

$552.97 Billion in 2025- Global art market size. Be honest- If I asked you to estimate, what would have been your number?

Growth 2024-2025 was at a CAGR of 5.5%. Growth through 2029 is estimated at a CAGR of 5.9% (see below)

 

How does this compare with Global GDP? Estimates for 2025-2026 range from 2.3% World Bank Group to 3.3% (International Money Fund-IMF).

Here’s what World Bank Chief Economist Indermit Gill has to say about global growth prospects:

“International discord—about trade, in particular—has upended many of the policy certainties that helped shrink extreme poverty and expand prosperity after the end of World War II. This year alone, our forecasts indicate the upheaval will slice nearly half a percentage point off the global GDP growth rate that had been expected at the start of the year, cutting it to 2.3 percent. That’s the weakest performance in 17 years, outside of outright global recessions. By 2027, global GDP growth is expected to average just 2.5 percent in the 2020s—the slowest pace of any decade since the 1960s.” 

The same World Bank report predicts about 2.7% growth in the coming years. The IMF is much the same, but distinguishes between regions:

 

 

Just how big is the number for the Global Art Market compared to other major market categories? Let’s compare it to the Global Apparel Market: Uniform Market estimates the 2025 global apparel market size at $1.84 Trillion, or about 1.6% of global GDP.  So the global art market is 1/3 the size of apparel? Did you know? (I didn’t)

Let’s take it a step further. Given the above data, where to put your money, and what is a “safe” investment that will provide stable growth with least risk? Property? Stocks? Bonds? Crypto? Commodities? Assuming you don’t have a crystal ball that can see the future, and given the global economic data, ohshit.

Clearly, the market for art is not subject to the current trade and political issues. And is it an especially good investment in times like these? What would cause the art market to depress like the stock or bitcoin markets?

2. Art x YOU

Most especially, given the economic data, what do you do with your money? OF course, you want the most growth and the least risk. You kind of knew what I was going to suggest: ART.

Why?

To begin with, the data above shows that art should be a singularly good investment in the coming years.

But what is the risk?

None. None?

If you are comfortable with the price you paid for art, you have nothing to lose. 

An investment in art has emotional value. Yes, there is emotional satisfaction in making a profitable investment but, unless you have issues, it’s not the same as a beautiful piece of art. Maddox Gallery in London elaborates four benefits of the emotional value of art as a  as a Passion Investment  which brings you lasting satisfaction and value:

1. Passion Assets Bring Emotional Satisfaction and Fulfilment.

2. Buying Fine Art as an Investment Offers Long-Term Value Appreciation and Stability (the below graphic explains).

 

3. Passion Investing Offers Portfolio Diversification.

4. There is Cultural and Intellectual Value in Investments of Passion. 

Let’s take it a step further. Why is buying art from living artists especially fulfilling?

One writer offers several reasons:

1. Unveiling authenticity: Owning an original piece means possessing a tangible connection to the artist’s creative journey, offering insights and narratives that transcend the boundaries of time and space.

2. Fostering Artistic Growth- Supporting living artists means fueling their passion and enabling them to continue their artistic pursuits. 

3. Cultivating Cultural Diversity- Art is a universal language that transcends cultural barriers, offering a myriad of perspectives and insights into the human experience. By purchasing original artworks from living artists, you contribute to the preservation and celebration of diverse cultural traditions and expressions. 

4. Enhancing Your Living Space- Original artworks have the power to transform ordinary spaces into extraordinary realms of inspiration and beauty. 

5. Investment Value- While the primary motivation for owning a one-of-a-kind painting may be aesthetic or emotional, it’s worth noting that original artworks can also be valuable investments. As artists gain recognition and their careers progress, the value of their work may appreciate over time, offering potential financial returns in addition to the intrinsic value of ownership.

What’s in it for you? “In essence, owning one-of-a-kind paintings is not just about acquiring beautiful objects; it’s about participating in a larger narrative of cultural preservation, historical documentation, and artist legacy. Through their ownership and stewardship of these artworks, individuals become active participants in the ongoing dialogue between past, present, and future, ensuring that the rich tapestry of human creativity endures for generations to come.” 

This appeal is not present in most investments. Or home purchases. Do you get the same satisfaction from your furniture as your art? And, if you spent a fortune on a home or office, doesn’t art increase the emotional and financial perceived value?

If you’re convinced, how should you select which painting to buy? Only you can decide, but here’s some of my criteria:

1. It speaks to me. Promotes emotional, personal empathy. Many of our customers buy a painting because of the connection it makes to them. For example, a painting of a cat might speak to you because you love cats or had one that passed. 

2. Its nature value. If I see a painting that gives me a warm feeling because it depicts something I love as part of nature.

3. I can visualize it on my wall.

4. It is original, unusual, special in its aesthetic and cultural value.

5. It reminds me of an experience that I cherish.

6. I am proud of its one-of-a-kind nature and to show it to all.

7. *I want my home to be a sanctuary of serenity, so my art should enhance that goal.

But what about the price? Again, the painting will never deteriorate or be used up. It can last and have legacy value. And if the price you paid is comfortable for the forever acquisition, everything else is gravy.

Buying direct from the artist adds to its authenticity and appeal.

3. Art x You x Lotus & Michael

So now that you are (hopefully) convinced of the timeless emotional and investment value of art, why buy ours?

Our art is expressed in our garments--Based on our profession in the fashion industry, it came natural that we chose to do garment business; Because of Lotus’ artistic taste and Michael’s market experience as a buyer in the past, we present our garments with sophisticated colors, styles, fabrics, and embroideries. So other than Lotus’ art for hanging on the wall, our garments are art as well, the wearable ones.

It's all one statement- Lotus’ art extends to more than her paintings. And our clothing extends to more than nice stuff to wear. Both are intimately related to why  we do this: Art, clothing, gardening, cooking are all connected to our lifestyle and that is what we share with you.

We want to bring art, or an aesthetic attitude to your daily life so you can enjoy it with us and make your individual statement. Like the end screen of our videos says: “Since we can’t give you a flower from our garden, we embroidered it on our garments. May you always enjoy blooming and fragrant days from Lotus&Michael.” 

This is also true of our art.

Owning our garments or paintings, you share in our Lifestyle- Many of Lotus’ paintings are direct reflections of things that are part of our environment and daily lives, such as Queen of the Night which depicts our plant which took 26 months to bloom and then blessed us with its unique flowers; some of them translate to our embroidery, such as our prunus mumei(plum blossom)  or our beautiful Chrysanthemum; yet others portray one beautiful world with the fusion of Eastern and Western cultures, such as Encounter With Beauty.

Speaking of fusion, Lotus’ style is a unique blend of Chinese Water Ink, famous for its detail, and Oil Painting, which takes the liberty of portraying beauty as an impression.

And, each painting is one of a kind.

Most important, we invite our customers to share our sacred principles of preserving our planet in our own small way that gets bigger the more it is shared. Our commitment to plant-dyed clothing and simple, classic garments that are built to last is a clear and tangible reflection of these principles. Both are timeless classics.

So it is all connected and reflected visually in our art, clothing, gardening, and cooking and captured in our videos. We categorically reject the ultraprocessed and convenience world that threatens our health and our planet.

Every painting, every garment has a story and they are all kindred. It is a story that we think needs to be told and learned to make our lives and our planet better for our children.

Surely our clothing and paintings and have their own intrinsic value. But we hope that the value of the story and lifestyle behind them, as well as conscientious quality, give them authenticity which raises their emotional and material value to you.

Take a look; we welcome your comments as well as your purchases! It is our intention to merge our garment and art customers into one community with the same mission statement.

Our store: www.lotusandmichael.com

Lotus Art: https://www.lotusandmichael.com/collections/art

Our lifestyle in video: www.youtube.com/@lotusandmichael

See you there!