For years, Jay Lyon lived the life of a cultural nomad—a successful model in New York, a musician in LA, and a creative in Paris.
Along the way, he moved in the orbit of artists, photographers, and fashion houses, building the kind of relationships that only time and proximity can buy.
Now, after more than a decade abroad, he’s living in Sydney with a bold vision for the Australian art world.
It’s called ART+, and it’s not your typical gallery.
Located in the heart of Potts Point, ART+ redefines how Australians experience—and invest in—art.
It’s part salon, part portfolio strategy, and entirely international in scope. Inside, you’ll find museum-grade fine art photography, blue-chip pop art, and rare contemporary works from some of the world’s most influential names.
“We wanted to create a space and brand that felt inclusive and exciting,” says the charming and vivacious Lyon, the gallery’s founder, relaxed but razor-sharp as he walks through the spacious, light-filled gallery.
The gallery focuses on three key pillars: fine art photography, modern contemporary, and iconic pop and street art.
“Around the world, the modern contemporary art scene is dynamic, fun, bold and big. Art collaborations are king, and artists get that major platform to showcase their art. Win win!”
These are categories where Lyons has both personal passion and global access. His years living between New York (10 years) and Paris (three) helped him establish enduring relationships with estates and living artists—access that now shapes ART+’s offering.
“Art is a relationships game,” he says. “I have genuine connections with all the artists still living that we represent exclusively.”
That exclusivity is visible on the walls. A rare photographic print dated 1939 hangs alongside a tapestry by Alexander Calder, one of the few surviving pieces after much of the artist’s work was lost in the LA fires. “Crazy amounts were destroyed,” Lyon notes.
A hand-signed Campbell’s Soup silkscreen set by Andy Warhol, valued at $3.3 million, anchors the gallery’s blue-chip credentials.
But ART+ isn’t only for ultra-collectors. Entry-level pieces start at around $5,000, giving newer collectors an accessible way into what is, increasingly, a booming investment class.
“Art is the number one performing tangible asset class, outperforming watches, wine, jewellery, cars year on year,” Lyon explains.
“Investors want to diversify their wealth across multiple asset classes, and blue-chip contemporary art is a very safe place to invest with growth upwards of 20% each year for the past decade.”
He believes Australian collectors have long been underserved by a cautious and conservative local scene—something he’s determined to shift.
“In Australia, it has always felt a little safe and stuffy,” he says. “Collectors seem to all have the same kind of collections here, and we wanted to start to change that narrative.”
He’s doing so by making ART+ not just a gallery but a curated experience. Expect private viewings, live installations, and evening events that blend education with culture and connection. His goal? To build not just clientele but community.
“We are constantly searching for new and innovative ways to take art to the people,” he explains. “Whether through events, live art installations, artist commissions, brand activations and educational evenings for people to educate themselves on art as an investment.”
Lyon’s is also seeing a new kind of client emerge—one who approaches art with both emotion and calculation.
“We definitely are seeing high-net-worths investing for financial strategy also depending on how liquid the art can be,” he says.
“We have noticed that major corporations, hedge funds, and businesses, small and big, have started to incorporate art into their financial strategy, not just as decoration.”
“They get the tax benefits associated with purchasing art through their businesses, they get capital appreciation of the artwork and they get the enjoyment of seeing it on the walls every day, which studies have shown improve mood and productivity in the workplace.”
And if a client has something hyper-specific in mind?
“If a client wants an Andy Warhol Red Panda, I can get it,” he says with a knowing grin.
The point is clear: ART+ is not limited by geography or genre. The network is global, the vision is curated, and the emotional and financial value is very real.
It’s an approach shaped by a lifetime of cultural immersion across continents and a belief that art doesn’t have to be exclusive to be exceptional. By sourcing, educating, and connecting, ART+ aims to change not just what Australians collect but also how they think about collecting.
This article is featured in the winter issue of Kanebride Quarterly, on sale now or at https://kanebridgenews.com/shop/