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Art Quote by Felix Salmon

“Currencies are things that you use to pay for other things; commodities are things that you buy. If art is going to be one or the other, it's going to be a commodity, not a currency.” quote by Felix Salmon
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“Currencies are things that you use to pay for other things; commodities are things that you buy. If art is going to be one or the other, it's going to be a commodity, not a currency.”

Felix Salmon

About This Quote

Source Interview: Bloomberg Markets, 2020

Distinguishes currency (exchange medium) from commodity (tradeable good), asserting art fits the latter.

In simple terms: Art is a commodity, not money.

Key Takeaway

Treat art as a tradable asset.

Themes

economics art value commodities currency

Mood

analytical critical

Type

explanatory observational

When to use this quote

  • gallery pricing
  • artist contracts
  • investment portfolios
  • collector decisions

Key Concepts

exchange theory valuation cultural economics

Questions to Reflect On

  • How does treating art as a commodity affect its cultural significance?
  • Can monetary value capture artistic worth?
A Different Perspective

Art's emotional value may resist commodification.

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