The Easel

Why “Flipping” Art Is so Controversial

A slender argument against flipping? Flipping, the practice of buying and quickly selling art, allegedly destabilises the market for an artist’s work. Whether true or not, this is not the full picture. Price instability often reflects a poorly informed market – due in part to the art market’s chronically opaque practices. Further, the promotion of art as an “asset” has attracted more investors. And what investors do is buy and sell.