What is the value of a painting purchased directly from an artist? Does it appreciate or depreciate over time? Does a thousand dollars spent, divided over time, mean 10 years from the date of purchase, the painting is worth $100 per year? Does the painting’s value increase to us if the artist’s portfolio expands and the market rewards them with a higher sales price on future works? Does the price matter once purchased? Do we recall the purchase price after time recedes? If the art piece represents a significant moment or place, how does our perception change? What if the artist’s personal conduct deviates from what we thought was a shared belief?

Assigning value to customized pieces is challenging. How much is our time worth? Or our creativity? Or our presence? How might we calibrate enduring value versus real-time market value?