Married to successful contemporary artist David Hart, son of Pro Hart, Christine directs the day-to-day running of her husband’s galleries on the Coast.
179043 Chloe, Christine and David Hart at the Pro Hart Charity exhibition held at David Hart Galleries.
When you are a Hart, life dictates art.
Christine Hunt wed into the Hart art family dynasty. Married to successful contemporary artist David Hart, son of Australia’s iconic Pro Hart, Christine directs the day-to-day running of her husband’s galleries at Noosa and Mooloolaba.
For Christine, investing in art came naturally, but she said those not involved in the art world were often afraid to take the plunge into investment art. But that trend was changing.
“If you’ve done your research, art is a stable and secure investment that appreciates over time,” Christine said.
“Gradually, people are becoming aware of this and are buying art to diversify their investments, even investing in art as part of their superannuation. The important thing to remember when buying art is that it’s not like buying shares: you’ve got to hold on to the piece for at least five years.”
According to Christine, one of the main advantages of buying art is that it can be enjoyed in the home and passed through generations. “When you buy a piece of art for investment it’s not something you tuck away,’’ she said.
“You hang it on your wall and enjoy it every day.
“It becomes an important part of your day-to-day life.
“David and I have kept certain special pieces that will be passed on to our children and, we hope, stay in the Hart family.
“A sector of the market we’ve noticed growth in is parents buying art as milestone gifts for their children – for weddings, birthdays and anniversaries.”
Christine said that before starting an art collection, research was vital.
She said a good way to find information was to talk to art dealers, read art publications and use the internet.
“You need to know about the artist whose work you are buying – their background and prizes they’ve won,” she said.
“By keeping up to date with art happenings, you get a sense for who emerging investment artists are and can buy their work early in their career.”
Throughout June, David Hart Gallery at Noosa will hold its 2009 Collector’s Exhibition.
Some of the works for sale come from Christine and David’s private collection, including works by Pro Hart and David Boyd.
The total value of works for sale is $845,000, with art ranging in price from $500 to $95,000.
“One of the great things about buying art is that it is accessible to most budgets,” Christine said
