Blue chip

What is blue chip?

Blue chip means proven masterworks by the most sought-after artists, whose value rises continuously and predictably. It is the safest but also the most expensive floor of the art market. Put simply, these are names about which the market is not mistaken over the long term.

How do blue chip works behave on the market?

They behave as a safe bet. Demand for them is constant and supply limited, so their value rises slowly but reliably over time. Over the long term they can beat stock indices, so many collectors see them as a store of value. You can follow them through the Artprice 100 ranking, for instance.

Why does it matter to a collector or investor?

Because blue chip is the least risky part of the market: buying a proven name means you are not relying on whether an artist will “come off”, but building on continuous growth that history has already confirmed. That is a peace of mind the more speculative floors cannot offer. The price of that peace, however, is the highest entry cost.

Can you give an example?

The textbook example is Picasso: an artist whose works are, on the market, literally a safe bet. With names like these the value holds and rises over the long term regardless of waves of fashion. These are painters whose place in the history of art is no longer questioned.

What should you watch out for?

The main pitfall is the price. Blue chip is safest precisely because it is most expensive, so entry requires considerable capital. Safety also does not mean a swift profit; growth here is gradual and counted in years, not months. And be careful: not every famous name is automatically blue chip — what decides is that demonstrable continuity of value.

— Anna Pulkertová, founder of Art Part Club