Andrew is a Managing Director at MA Financial Group, the Principal Partner of Sydney Contemporary, and the Head of the firm’s Asset Management business. He has over 30 years’ experience in global investments as a principal investor and adviser across a range of sectors including real estate, infrastructure, private equity and energy. Driven by a strong passion for the arts, Andrew founded the MA Art Prize, complemented by his personal collection of contemporary art chronicling Australia’s artistic talent over recent decades.
Over the years, Andrew Martin has built a significant collection with a strong focus on Australian abstraction, Indigenous art, and emerging talent. We spoke with him about how his collecting journey began, the importance of following your instincts, and the artists he’s most excited about today.
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What made you want to start collecting art, and how has your approach to collecting evolved over time?
Looking back there was no real catalyst. I didn’t grow up with art, and nor do I claim to have much artist ability. I got the bug in my mid 20’s and it has been a passion ever since.
What was the first piece of art you ever bought, and do you still own it?
My first piece was a very early Ildiko Kovacs. I think she painted the work soon after leaving art school. I still own the work and it remains one of my favourites. Since then, I have purchased a number of her works which have traversed her entire career.
Picture: Ildiko Kovacs, Untitled
Is there a focus in artists in your collection? Are you more interested in emerging or well-known artists?
My main focus is abstract art. I collect both emerging and well-known artists. Many of the emerging artists have graduated from being “emerging” at the time of purchase. These artists include works Ildiko Kovacs, Stepehen Harvey, Dale Frank, James McGrath, John Young and David Larwill. Established, well known artists in the collection include Brett Whiteley, John Olsen, Sydney Ball, John Coburn and Robert Owen. My favourite up and coming artists in the collection include Ramash Mario Nithiyendran, Ryan Hoffman and Claire Healy & Sean Cordeiro.
I also collect indigenous artists which include Paddy Bedford, Ronnie Tjampitjinpa and Yaritji Young.
I travel to Asia and particularly China a lot for work and as a result some Chinese contemporary artists are making their way into the collection including Zhuang Hong-yi and Huang Yan.
I am also very fortunate to be on MA Financial’s corporate art collection committee, where we focus mainly on Australian emerging artists.
What advice would you give to someone looking to make their first purchase at Sydney Contemporary?
Follow what you love – don’t try and pick the latest trend or what you guess might appreciate. Apart from Whiteley, I have never purchased with a pure investment lens. Having said that, I love his works and am not interested in selling them.
Picture: Brett Whiteley, Waratah, 1970
Was there a piece of art that got away?
My big regret is not going much earlier and harder in collecting Whiteleys. For me he is Australia’s leading artist, and from an investment point of view, his works have done extraordinarily well.
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About MA Financial Group
MA Financial Group is a global alternative asset manager specialising in private credit, real estate and hospitality. We lend to property, corporate and specialty finance sectors and provide corporate advice.
We invest and manage $12.7 billion on behalf of our clients, are responsible for $155 billion in managed loans and have advised on over $125 billion in advisory and equity capital market transactions.
We have over 700 professionals across locations in Australia, China, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Singapore and the United States.
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