For Nakul Sachdeva, Collecting Art is All About the Pursuit of Joy

Life in law is often demanding and stressful, says Nakul Sachdeva, but he finds a sense of calm in art. It’s a way for him to slow down and take a momentary step away from an otherwise hectic professional life, immersing himself into the creative side of his personality. His journey into art collecting began quietly, with the sole aim of bringing home the kind of art that he knew he would enjoy looking at for a long time. For Sachdeva, collecting has always been a process led by his heart, for the simple pleasure of living with art that he loves. As the Indian art market gains traction, his philosophy remains crystal clear: buy the art you love and let it bring you joy. Everything else, he feels, is incidental.

“My collecting journey started a decade ago, roughly in 2015-16. But I purchased my most significant artwork much later, in 2021,” he says, adding, “Looking at it from another angle, every purchase right from 2016 has been significant as it has added to my journey of collecting thus far. My primary aim of collecting was to display and enjoy art.” As a dispute resolution advocate with a gruelling schedule, art has been a vital anchor in his life—the point where chaos ends and serenity begins. He says, “Taking a break from work to enjoy the whole process of collecting, including attending shows, exhibitions, auctions and fairs, and reading about the artist, indeed works as an escape route.”

Acquiring artworks has always been an instinctive decision for Sachdeva—he has never sought out a piece merely for its investment potential. “I collect art to put up on my walls and enjoy it, so the decision to buy is always based on that objective. Having said that, the price point does make a difference,” he says.

The growing inclination of some collectors to buy art solely as an investment is not something Sachdeva endorses. “There are other pure capital assets like equities and precious metals for investment purposes. I treat art as something that is meant to be enjoyed, rather than purchasing it for investment. I find that the monetary value, while important, is secondary.”

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